McAfee issues urgent warning for 20 million Android users

Australians who use Android devices are being warned that malicious apps may be hiding on their phones.

Australians who use Android devices are being warned that malicious apps may be hiding on their phones.

The apps can drain the phone’s battery life and slow its hardware performance, according to a recent McAfee blog post.

The company’s security researchers announced they had identified the malicious new “clicker” malware that sneaked into Google Play, pretending to be standard, useful software. The malicious code was found on applications like flashlight (torch), QR readers, camera, unit converters, and task managers.

“In total 16 applications that were previously on Google Play have been confirmed to have the malicious payload with an assumed 20 million installations,” McAfee said.

“McAfee security researchers notified Google and all of the identified apps are no longer available on Google Play.”

McAfee has warned of the malware. Picture: McAfee/screengrab

The aim of the malware is to maximise ad revenue, as it will click on advertisements without the user being aware of it.

McAfee says this can cause “heavy network traffic and consume power without user awareness during the time it generates profit for the threat actor behind this malware”.

However, there is good news.

“Once you remove this and other malicious applications, you can expect an extended battery time and you will notice reduced mobile data usage while ensuring that your sensitive and personal data is protected from this and other types of threats.”

Websites the malware visited without the user’s knowledge. Picture: McAfee/screengrab

The apps have been removed by Google from the Play Store, however they may still be active on some phones, so it remains best to delete them if you are unsure if you may have downloaded any of them in the past.

Here’s the full list of impacted apps:

• BusanBus (com.kmshack. BusanBus)

• Currency Converter (com.smartwho. SmartCurrencyConverter)

• EzDica (com.joysoft.ezdica)

• EzNotes (com.meek.tingboard)

• Flashlight+ (com.candlencom.candleprotest)

• Flashlight+ (com.dev.imagevault)

• Flashlight+ (kr.caramel.flash_plus)

• High-Speed Camera (com.hantor. CozyCamera)

• Instagram Profile Downloader (com.schedulezero.instapp)

• Joycode (com.joysoft.barcode)

• K-Dictionary (com.joysoft.wordBook)

• Quick Note (com.movinapp.quicknote)

• Smart Task Manager (com.james. SmartTaskManager).