Did you know Google Play Store Becomes Infiltrated By Popular Android Apps Who Drain Users’ Battery By Loading Ads When Screens Are Off
One of the most annoying things related to smartphone usage is being
bombarded with apps that are designed to drain your device’s battery.
Recently,
the Google Play Store was bombarded by a whopping 43 different Android
apps that had nearly 2.5 million downloads. They were the ones who
allowed ad downloading while the user’s screen was turned off and that
ultimately led to their device’s battery falling to a new low.
The research team at McAfee
was the first to report the alarming behavior and how the
malware-filled apps on Android were wreaking havoc as more and more
users complained to Google about the behavior.
This was a clear
violation of the policies on the Play Store, they added and thankfully,
the Android maker was quick to act and get rid of the platforms through
the official store that belongs to Android.
These apps were
mostly used for media streams and for news purposes. And the respective
target audience was outlined as being Korean. But that does not mean
such kinds of deceptive behavior couldn’t be applicable to a range of
other top domains and reach out to demographics that were more diverse
in nature.
While such apps are deemed to be a source of adware,
they’re continuing to be a major risk to all kinds of users as they pave
the way to a number of profiling risks. Similarly, they drain batteries
and make the most of a huge chunk of internet data as well while giving
rise to more fraud cases that may be filed against the respective
advertisers.
The report by the top security firm claims that
adware of this kind was disguised throughout Google Play platforms which
ended up impersonating a long list of apps such as Music Downloader,
Calendar, TV Player, News, and so many more similar categories.
After
it gets downloaded, the adware applications would allow for a delay of a
few weeks, right before it further went on to activate more
advertising-fraudulent endeavors which are designed to deceive so many
users and prevent detection through reviewers on the platform.
McAfee
added how the configuration can actually end up getting changed further
and updated by Messaging or other means so that operators may adjust
the exact time taken for dormancy to occur, alongside the other factors.
The
Android software makes use of another feature that helps to prevent the
battery from draining and puts apps in sleep or standby mode, whenever
you’re not using the device. Hence, no programs run in the background
and it won’t be making use of any memory, CPU, and other network
features.
When the adware apps get downloaded, you’ll see more
users include them as a part of Android’s system for power saving. This
would ensure the malicious platforms continue to run well in
backgrounds.
With such an exclusion, the platforms would be
allowed to get and load ads, even if the screen for a smartphone is
switched off. As a result, it produces more revenue and gives users no
way to comprehend what’s taking place.
The security firm added
how it could be enabled in a manner that gives the phone’s user the
chance to look over any loaded ads, whenever the screen’s device
switches on, right before it gets shut automatically.
One of the
biggest indicators linked to compromise has to do with letting go of
your battery as it really does drain it to a severe extent, even when
the device isn’t being used.
