Joker virus found again in Android apps a year after Google removed many infected apps from Play Store

Joker virus found again in Android apps a year after Google removed many infected apps from Play Store : The dangerous Joker virus has returned to haunt Android apps yet again. Earlier in July 2020, Joker virus targeted as much as more than 40 Android apps available on Google Play Store post which Google had to remove those infected apps from Play Store. This time again, the Joker virus has freshly targeted eight new Android apps. The malicious virus steals users’ data, including SMS, contact list, device info, OTPs and more.

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 messages, travel wallpapers and Super SMS. The publication notes that all the infected apps have been removed by Google from the play store but if the apps remain on the user’s device, the virus will stay. So if you have any of the apps installed on your phone, you should remove them right away.

Joker is a malware Trojan that primarily targets Android users. The malware interacts with users through apps. Google had removed around 11 Joker-infected apps from Play Store in July and removed 34 apps in October that year. As per cybersecurity film Zcaler, the malicious apps had over 120,000 downloads.

“This spyware is designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists, and device information along with silently signing up the victim for premium wireless application protocol (WAP) services,” Zcaler blog read.