If you own an Android handset, you need to heed this warning. There are 15 apps that must be deleted immediately if they are installed on your Android-powered device. “A global threat exploiting social engineering” has managed to get installed on over eight million phones and if you are one of the many users tricked into installing one or more of these apps, you could find yourself taking a huge financial hit. With these apps installed, you could end up a victim of harassment, extortion, and suffer a huge financial loss.
There has been a huge global increase in SpyLoan apps
“Despite violating policies, these apps often slip through app store vetting processes and are available on platforms like Google Play, making them appear trustworthy.”-McAfee
SpyLoan apps try to attract victims by pretending to offer quick and flexible loans with low rates and easy-to-meet requirements. But as with anything that sounds too good to be true, these loans are, well, too good to be true. By using limited-time deals the cybercrooks create a sense of urgency that snags victims and prevents them from taking a long thoughtful look at what they are doing.
If you have any of these 15 apps installed on your Android phone, delete it immediately. | Imag credit-McAfee
Watch out for these red flags!
Google suggests that you have Play Protect enabled which scans Android devices for malware-infected apps. The feature warns users about potentially harmful apps and may deactivate or remove such apps from a device.
Google says to watch out for the following signs that indicate your device might be compromised:
- Alerts about a virus or an infected device
- Anti-virus software you use no longer works or runs
- A significant decrease in your device’s operating speed
- A significant, unexpected decrease in storage space on your device
- Your device stops working properly or working altogether
If these symptoms surface on your Android phone, you might want to make sure that Google Play Protect is enabled by opening the Play Store, tapping the profile icon in the top right corner, pressing “Play Protect Settings, ” and toggling on the switch next to “Scan apps with Play Protect.” For enhanced protection enable “Improve harmful app detection.”
You can also check for Android device and security updates, and remove untrusted apps no longer in the Play Store or found in a third-party app store. This is a serious matter since the bottom line is that your money is involved. And keep in mind that even if Google removed these apps from the Play Store, if you installed any of them on your phone they will stay in your phone and remain a threat until you delete them.