There is a new list of Android apps that are malicious. Some of these apps were caught in the act by security researchers stealing money and information. PhoneArena wrote about them. Most of these apps have been taken off of the official Google Play Store, but users still need to delete them from their phones. Some of these apps have been downloaded more than 50,000 times around the world and have 4.8-star ratings from users. This is why you need to be extra careful.Here is this article, are the dangerous android apps you must delete immediately.
Google Play is a great place to find great new apps, but you should be careful before you download them because they could be harmful to your security. Even well-known and older apps can be bad for your privacy if you’re not careful. Some apps can access the information on your phone and sell your personal information to advertisers. Because of this, we’ve made a list of the most dangerous Android apps you should get rid of right now.
Also Read: 10 Best Free Android Apps To Find Your Friends Via GPS
1. The UC Browser
UC browser is one of the most downloaded web browsers for Android. It was made by UCWeb, which is a branch of the Chinese tech giant Alibaba. But cybersecurity experts say that it doesn’t do enough to protect the data it sends. This means that hackers and intelligence agencies may be able to get their hands on your personal information. Researchers say that when the browser sends keystrokes over the web, it uses weak encryption and sometimes none at all. This makes it a dangerous android app that’s unsafe and you should get rid of as soon as possible.
2. CLEANit
CLEANit says that it is a junk file cleaner, and it has been downloaded millions of times from the Play Store. The app not only needs a lot of permissions, but it also advertises useless services on modern Android devices with powerful hardware. In fact, some of them could even hurt your phone. For example, clearing your phone’s cache will only slow it down when it needs to be rebuilt, and closing background apps has no real effect on battery life. Unless, of course, these apps are playing music or searching for files in the background, in which case you don’t want to close them.
Also Read: Pin Android Apps From Your Phone To Start On Windows 11 PC
3. Dolphin Browser
Dolphin browser is another very popular third-party browser app that makes a lot of promises but doesn’t deliver much. It is a flash-enabled browser that is hard to track and should be removed right away. Multiple reports over the years say that Dolphin not only keeps track of your incognito browsing sessions but also shows your original IP address, even when you’re using a VPN. It also has a lot of extra “features” like video players and speed boosters that just make it bigger.
4. Virus Cleaner – Antivirus Free and Phone Cleaner
The app Virus Cleaner – Antivirus Free and Phone Cleaner from Super Cleaner Studio is exactly what’s wrong with the Android ecosystem. It has been downloaded more than 14 million times. It comes with a lot of ads, and many of them are for questionable services and brands. Also, it claims to be a “effective security master, phone junk cleaner, WIFI security, super speed booster, battery saver, CPU cooler, and notification cleaner,” but no software can do any of those things. I’d skip any app that says it will “cool down the CPU.”
Also Read: How To Sideload Android Apps In Windows 11
5.SuperVPN
SuperVPN is one of the most popular VPN apps on Android, with more than 100 million installations. But earlier this year, cybersecurity experts said that the app has critical flaws that could let hackers carry out Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks and steal personal information like credit card numbers, photos, and private chats. Reports say that criminals can also use the holes to take over a user’s connection to malicious websites, which could put the user’s privacy and security at risk.
6. RT NEWS
Russia Today (RT), which is paid for by the Kremlin, is the official voice of the Russian government. The network has English-language news channels, blogs, and a number of mobile apps for people in the West. Even though it says it’s a good journalism project, it’s often used as a propaganda outlet for Vladimir Putin’s government. The CIA and MI6 have also pointed to it as a major source of false information about US politics and Brexit. If you don’t want to see a lot of fake news, you should avoid this news app.
7.Super Clean – Master of Cleaner
Because it is so popular, we had to add yet another “cleaner” app to our list. Super Clean by Magical Dev has been downloaded more than 26 million times from the Play Store. However, like most other cleaning apps, it doesn’t do much to make your phone run faster. As with other apps in its category, it promises to optimise battery use, clean up junk files, and boost memory without the need for a third-party app. Anyhow, most Android phone makers include a security/cleaner app with their phones, which should usually do the job.
Also Read: How To Fix Android Apps Not Working On Windows 11
8. Fildo Music
The next-to-last app on our list is Fildo, which used to be a way to download music illegally but now looks like a local music player. After the app was put under the microscope, it stopped letting users download music. It is now a music management app instead.But we aren’t sure about apps that say one thing but do something else. It is also said to have ties to Netease, a controversial Chinese entertainment company. This is another red flag for users. You should switch to a different app if you want to play music.
9. S.M.T.H ( Send Me To Heaven)
S.M.T.H. stands for Send Me TO Heaven.It’s a fun little game app, but it does things to your phone that you might not have expected. The app uses the sensors built into a smartphone to figure out how high you can throw it. Yes, you have to throw your phone up high for the game to work.
10. Some Games and Puzzles App
Most people don’t give much thought to downloading puzzle and game apps that are free. But when malware and other dangerous code are hiding, that can come back to hurt you in a big way.Malware-spreading apps want to reach as many people as possible, so it’s not unusual to see ads for them on social media. Games like Rugby Pass, Flying Skateboard, and Plant Monster are among those. It is more than just malware. Most games collect a lot more data than you might think. Take the very popular game Words with Friends as an example. This game collects information about purchases, contacts, user content, identifiers, diagnostics, location, contacts, browning history, usage, and “other data.” I’m going to stick with the real Scrabble.
Also Read: How To Fix Android Apps Not Working On Windows 11
11. CamScanner
This scanner app became very popular very quickly because it allowed for precise cropping and automatic light adjustments. CamScanner even has a template for scanning IDs, so employees who are filling out paperwork for new hires can quickly scan and upload sensitive documents.Now, don’t give this free app your driver’s licence, financial documents, or Social Security number just yet.Back in 2019, security researchers found malicious code in the Android version of the PDF creator app. The bad code came from a library for ads made by a third party. After the SDK was removed, the app was updated and put back on the Google Play Store. Still, you might not want it and decide to stay away.
12. Astrology App
You can use astrology to look at the stars and figure out why you are the way you are. Well, maybe. But if you download Astro Guru: Astrology, Horoscope, and Palmistry, you’ll get a lot of information from it. Check Point Research says that the app, which has been downloaded more than 10 million times, didn’t properly protect user data like usernames, birth dates, gender, location, email addresses, and payment information. Yikes. It’s best to throw it away.
13. iFax
14.Logo Maker – Free Graphic Design & Logo Templates
Logo Maker – Free Graphic Design & Logo Templates was found to be another app with an open database that works in real time. The free app has been downloaded a lot and has gotten good reviews. You would have no idea that it could make your information available to anyone who wants to look for it.This includes email addresses, passwords, usernames, and user IDs. This is a great reminder to set unique logins for all your accounts, even apps you may not use very often. Let’s say you download Logo Maker and set the same password you use for your bank’s website. Once a criminal has your password, it’s easy for them to check other accounts that use the same username and password.
15. Screen Recorder
Recording your screen can be more useful than taking a picture of it, but be careful about how you do it. Screen Recorder, which has been downloaded more than 10 million times, lets users record and share their work. Researchers say that the app saves recordings of what’s on the screen on a cloud service. That’s convenient, but researchers say, “There can be serious consequences if the developers embed the secret and access keys to the same service that stores those recordings.”It makes another dangerous android apps that you must remove.
16. Facebook
Think about how important your information is to Big Tech. Why would they let you use so many services for free if they didn’t want you to? Facebook is the best example of this. Here are a few things the app keeps track of:
- Your text messages, call logs, and contacts
- Your location
- Your storage space inside
- Your camera and sound recorder
Facebook wants to have a lot of control over your device. It wants to know where you go (online and in person), what you search for, and what you buy. Then, it uses that information to show you ads that are more relevant to you. Not bothered by the ads? Certainly. But Facebook has also had data leaks before.
Also Read:14 Best Free Android Apps You must have
17. QR Code Scanner
When you download a third-party app for scanning, you make your phone full. Still, a lot of people are drawn to these shows. So instead of taking a chance and giving out even more information about yourself, use the tools that come with your phone.Here’s how to do it.
- On Android, open the camera app, point it at a QR code, and hold it steady for a few seconds.
- If a message comes up, tap on it. If you don’t get a message, go to Settings and turn on scanning QR codes.
- Open the camera app on your iPhone and move your finger over the QR code. Your phone will take you to the link when you scan the code.
18. TikTok
TikTok is known for short videos that go viral, like dances and dangerous stunts. But when kids compete to see whose video goes viral the most, they will do anything to win. AP News said that a 10-year-old Italian girl killed herself by strangling herself as part of the “blackout challenge.” All parents should know how dangerous TikTok can be. Your child may say they use TikTok to hang out with friends and dance, but all kids can be influenced by their peers. If they see social media stars they look up to play dangerous games, they may want to do the same, even if it puts their safety at risk.
19. Light It Up
When smartphones first came out, they had to have flashlight apps. No longer, because this feature is now built into phones. Many app designers added cool new features to keep people using their apps and keep all that data coming in. Take the iPhone app iTorch Flashlight as an example. The free app keeps track of your location, your personal information, how you use it, and diagnostic information. Giving up all of that just to use a flashlight is a lot.
20. ES File Explorer
When it first came out five years ago, this file explorer app, which is now very popular, worked well. Now, it’s no longer important. If you get the free version, you’ll get bloatware like a lot of ads and reminders to get other apps. These annoying pop-ups can’t even be turned off. Oh, and it gets worse. Google removed this app from the Play Store in 2019 because it was a fraud. So look for this app on your phone and delete it right away.
Also Read: 5 Secure Messaging Apps For Android In 2022
Conclusion
Even though Google keeps trying, the Play Store is full of thousands of dangerous android apps, such as malware, adware, spyware, and bloatware. But the ones we’ve already mentioned are some of the most dangerous apps on Android, so we’ve put them on our list. So, if you have any of the above most dangerous Android apps on your phone, delete them right away and get something else.
