Earlier in July 2020, Joker virus targeted more than 40 Android apps available on Google Play Store. Google had removed those infected apps from Play Store.
Now again the Joker virus has targeted eight new Android apps. This malicious virus steals user’s data, including SMS, contact list, device info, OTP and other important personal informations.
As per Gadgets Now, the eight apps that were infected by the Joker virus are Auxiliary Message, Fast magic SMS, Free CamScanner, Super Message, Element Scanner, Go message, travel wallpaper and Super SMS. These infected apps have been removed by Google from the Play Store, if the apps remain on the device, the virus will stay.
What should you do?
If you have any of these apps installed on your devices, you should take action. So, go and remove them right away.
What is the Joker virus?
Joker is one of the most prominent malware families that continually target Android devices. It is a malware Trojan that primarily targets Android users. The malware interacts with users through apps.
Around 11 apps infected by the Joker virus has removed by Google from Play Store in July and 34 apps in October 2020. As per the cybersecurity film Zcaler, those apps had over 120,000 downloads.
It keeps finding its way into Goolge’s official application market by making changes in its code, execution methods or retrieving techniques. This spyware is designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists and device information along with slightly signing up the victim for premium wireless application protocol(WAP) services (as Zcaler said).