Over 160 apps deleted from Google Play Store over persistent ads - Android

Apparently, all these 164 apps were carrying persistent ads under the com.tdc.adservice package.

Bear in mind that this isn’t necessarily an alarming malware and is just a mere cyberattack that carries annoying ads that will generate tons of profit for the developers.

White Ops notes that the apps’ behavior came from command-and-control JSON hosted on Dropbox and the link of the JSON on each apps. However, the structure is quite similar.

These apps use similar names and descriptions to the legitimate ones, which fools them into getting the real app. Some of them came from top-rated apps like Assistive Touch, Clean My Android, Battery Saver Pro, and ironically, an Antivirus app.

All these apps, which collectively garnered 10 million downloads, have been removed in the Google Play Store before the report was published. This means that upcoming users are safe, but those who already installed them should remove these apps now. You can check the list below.

164 Google Play Store apps deleted over persistent ads

• 100 mb Internet Speed Test – Broadband Speed Test
• 2 Ways Call Recorder Automatic, Record Phone Calls
• 3D Awesome Frame Effects
• 3D Photo Editor
• 3D Photo Frames Effects & 3D Art Photo Maker
• 3D Tattoo Photo Editor & Ideas
• Animals Sound Ringtones Real Free
• Anti WannaCry Virus – Android
• Antivirus – Virus Remover
• Antivirus 2017
• Antivirus 2017 & Cleaner
• Antivirus 2020, Cleaner & Booster
• Antivirus For Android
• Antivirus Pro 2017
• Applock 2020 – App Locker & privacy guard
• AppLock New 2019 – Privacy Zone & Lock your apps
• Assistive Touch 2018
• Assistive Touch 2020
• Audio Video Editor
• Audio Video Editor Mixer 2019 – Video Cutter
• Audio Video Mixer
• AV Antivirus 2017
• Battery Doctor – Power Battery 2018
• Battery Doctor 2018 – Fast Charger
• Battery Saver – Fast Charging
• Battery Saver – Saving Battery
• Battery Saver Pro
• Battery Saver Pro 2020 – New Power Saver
• BeanPro Antivirus
• Big Front – Change Front Size
• Block Puzzle 102: New Tentris Mania
• boost clean (junk cleaner pro)
• Calculator
• Call Block Blacklist and Block SMS Easy
• Call Recorder For Android
• Chinese Chess
• Chronometer
• Clean My Android – Antivirus
• cleaner booster -ultra-security-
• Collage Maker
• Control Center IOS 12 – Phone X Control Center
• Cool Master -CPU Device Cooler
• Disk-clean-suite
• DJ Mixer Studio 2018
• Don’t Stop Eighth Note
• Don’t Stop Eighth Note 2
• Don’t Stop Eighth Note Zombie
• Eighth Note
• Eighth Note V2
• Eighth Note: Yasuhati
• Fast Charger – Dr Battery 2017
• Feeding Fish
• Followers – Unfollowers For Insta
• free antivirus
• Free Antivirus-Mobile Security
• Free VPN Proxy – Unlimited VPN & Wifi Security
• Get Followers Up 2019
• Get Followers Up 2020
• GPS Navigation
• GPS Speedometer
• Graffiti Photo Editor – Graffiti Creator
• Holy Bible
• How Fast is My Internet – High Internet Speed Test
• Internet Speed Check 2019
• Internet Speed Test
• Internet Speed Test APK
• Internet Speed Test Free
• Internet speedmeter check
• iSwipe Phone X
• K-Lock gallery picture & video
• Learn Excel 2019
• Learn Play Piano – Pianist
• Lich Van Nien 2017
• Lịch Vạn Niên 2018 – Lịch Âm 2018
• Lion Antivirus 2017
• Lock app with Password – Applock All App Protector
• loudest alarm clock ever
• Loudest Volume Booster
• Love days counter
• Lovedays Memory 2020 – Love Counter Together
• Magnifier Zoom + Flashlight
• Male To Female Voice Changer
• Master Sudoku Offline Free 2018
• Max Cleaner – Booster, Optimizer, Super Cleaner
• Max Cleaner – Speed Booster Pro 2021
• Memory Cleaner 2020
• Milab Music Player – All format audio files
• Mine Sweep – Free Miner Game
• Motocross Racing 2018
• Mp3 cutter – Video Cutter, Easy Ringtone Maker
• MP3Cutter & Ringtone Maker 2020
• Name Art Photo Editor
• New Full Battery Saver – Battery Manager & Cleaner
• Night Mode
• Nox Cool Master – Cool Down 2020
• Old Phone Ringtones
• Optimiser Pro Cleaner Booster
• OS 13 Launcher – Phone 11 Pro Launcher
• OS Launcher 12 for iPhone X
• Phone Booster
• Phone Cleaner – Speed Booster
• Phone Cooler – Cooling Master
• Photo Editor
• Photo Editor Awesome Frame Effects 3D
• Photo Frame Effects 3D
• QR Code Scanner – QR Reader
• Quick Ball
• Quick Photo Square – Insta Emoji 2019
• Rain Photo Maker – Rain Effect Editor
• Recovery all photo deleted
• Repair System For Android & Speed Booster
• Ringtone maker – Mp3 cutter
• Ringtone Maker Ultimate: New Mp3 Cutter
• Scream Go – Eighth Note T-Rex
• Secret Lock
• Secure Gallery Vault: Photos, Videos Privacy Safe
• Security Pro
• Simple App Lock
• Smadav antivirus 2017
• Smadav antivirus for android 2018
• Smadav pro Total security
• Smart Cleaner-Battery Saver, Super Booster
• Sound Meter
• Speed Test Internet – Speed Check
• Speedtest net app
• Sudoku 2
• Sudoku Basic For Beginners 2019
• Super Antivirus Cleaner 2020
• Super Cleaner – Phone Cache Cleaner, RAM Booster
• Super Loud Alarm Clock
• Super Loud Volume Booster
• Super Phone Cleaner 2020
• Super Wifi Rounter – Who Is On My Wifi
• Super Wifi Rounter – Who Is On My Wifi
• TV Antivirus Free + Applock
• Ultra Cleaner 2018
• Unfollowers & Ghost Followers For Insta
• Video Music Cutter & Merge Studio
• Virus Cleaner – Antivirus 2018
• VPN Unlimited Proxy – Super VPN For Android
• Wifi File Transfer 2019
• Wifi Key – Free Master Wifi
• Wifi Speed Test
• WPS Tester
• WiFi Toolbox
• WPS WPA Wifi Test
• WPS Tester
• And few others with just package names

Source: White Ops

This article, Over 160 apps deleted from Google Play Store over persistent ads, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to's.