Researchers at security firm McAfee report that 16 malicious apps with over 20 million downloads have been removed from the Google Play store after they were found guilty of mobile ad fraud.
The Clicker malware masqueraded as harmless utilities such as cameras, currency/unit converters, QR code scans, note-taking apps, and dictionaries.
The McAfee team has compiled a list of malicious applications:
Clicker, once installed and running, allows malware to surreptitiously visit fake websites and simulate clicks on ads without the user's knowledge. This can result in heavy network traffic and power consumption, and can also be profitable for the malware operator.
To hide its malicious origin, the application takes into account the installation time, so that suspicious activity does not appear within the first hour after the application is downloaded. It also includes a random delay between "activity sessions" to go unnoticed.
McAfee has concluded that Clicker Malware is designed to generate illegal ad revenue and could disrupt the mobile advertising ecosystem.
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