[ad_1]
There is nothing quite as motivating as downloading a new fitness app to help kick off a new healthy habit – something many of us routinely do every January. However, Android users have been warned that several extremely popular fitness apps could pose a threat to their phone security and should be deleted immediately.
Three apps in particular have been exposed as potential phishing/malware scams. These apps initially promised customers rewards in return for being active; however, users were then unable to withdraw rewards and found themselves caught in a never-ending cycle of ads. In addition to this, the apps also appeared to have been accessing sensitive data from users’ phones.
We all know the importance of being vigilant about the apps we install on our devices and the access we grant to our personal data. However, worryingly for customers, all three of these Android apps were highly rated on the Google Play store (rating 4 out of 5 stars on average) and, subsequently, had together amassed over 20 millions downloads before the alarm was raised.
Official advice from Android is for users to delete any of the following apps with immediate effect:
Lucky Step – This walking tracker app proved extremely popular, with over 10 million downloads. The free-to-download app enticed users by converting steps taken in the real world into virtual ‘lucky coins’. The coins could then be exchanged for various rewards. However, any action in the app would lead to an advert, which users had to watch before they could move on to the next task.
WalkingJoy – Having amassed 5 million downloads, this app claimed you could earn up to $135 just by winning tickets from taking steps, spinning a wheel, and playing in-game slots. However, the app was filled with ad walls, which meant that users would have to watch endless adverts to access mini-games to earn tickets (which then could not be cashed out).
Lucky Habit – A free to download health tracker app with over 5 million downloads offering earning through activity, tracking, and in-game playing. Users are invited to hit all their ‘goals of the day’ and earn coins by doing activities such as stretching, drinking water, brushing their teeth or watching the news. Users could also earn coins by playing in-game slots; however, all activities required watching adverts before they could be completed.
In addition to these three apps, information has been released about several other dangerous apps for Android users to look out for. These have been classified as ‘command and control’ apps (meaning they can spread malware to your phone during an attack). The apps include:
- Happy Step (a clone of Lucky Step)
- King Blitz
- Lucky Clover
- Lux Fruits Game
- Jewel Sea
- Unlimited Score
- Seven Golden Wolf Blackjack
- Reflector
- Golden Hunt
A common theme that some of these apps share is in-app casino-type games, such as slots or blackjack. Users are reminded that games like these can carry extra risks, as players may be asked to link the account to a credit card, debit card, or bank account. Chris Evans, a spokesperson for Casinos.win, an iGaming affiliate marketing site, warns of the potential dangers associated with unregulated sites and apps.
Evans said: “We put a lot of effort and time into researching the safest places for players to enjoy iGaming online. Privacy and security are of the utmost importance. It is all too easy to unintentionally fall prey to a phishing scam or mistakenly download malware. We would encourage all users to research apps and websites, read reviews from a variety of sources, and only download from trusted sites.”
Of course, this list of apps is nowhere near comprehensive, and more potential security risks are being identified every day. One site suggests that there may be at least a further 200 dangerous apps which could potentially be stealing money from users’ bank accounts. These apps vary wildly in content, ranging from 4K camera apps to beauty filters, astrology apps, and even some messenger apps.
The controversy doesn’t stop there. Another extremely popular app which has come under scrutiny in recent months is TikTok. With over 3 billion downloads, TikTok is one of the most popular apps on the planet; however, as each day passes, more warnings hit the headlines. There are several countries which have gone so far as to ban the TikTok app completely, citing pornography, security, inappropriate content, and even, ‘leading the youth astray’, as justification. Due to security concerns, several states in America have clamped down on federal agents accessing the app on work phones. There has been much talk about the app’s association with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the access to secure and private information that they may be privy to – the app is owned by the Chinese company, Bytedance, who are required by law to share all the data they collect with the CCP.
Whatever the potential threat from TikTok, it is clear that as apps become more sophisticated, so too will their counterparts – phishing, malware, spyware and viruses. The best customers can do to limit their security risks, allay their privacy concerns, and protect from unwanted charges, performance issues and misleading information, is to remain vigilant and up to date. Risks can be minimised if apps are downloaded from trusted sources like the Google Play Store, and if users read the terms, conditions and permissions carefully before installing a new app.
[ad_2]
Source link