Trojan Apps on Google Play that can steal User Data

Google Play is said to have more than 17 Trojan Apps that could be part of a Trojan family identified as HiddenAdverts reported by Avast. The apps are part of a more extensive promotional campaign by HiddenAdverts, which initially focused on India and Southeast Asia users.

Nevertheless, the Avast researchers team has found that such apps are Trojan Apps on Google Play that can steal personal user data. Avast has reported that the spying Trojan apps are developed as video games but programmed to display misleading advertising and steal users’ data. The researchers found that the Trojan apps had the versatility to shield their icons from the affected gadgets and display scheduled advertisements that could not be skipped.

The Avast researchers team initially identified approximately 47 apps related to the HiddenAds family of Trojan. However, Google removed 30 suspicious apps when Avast (antivirus company) received the report.

“Once the user downloads the app, a timer starts within the app. The user is allowed to play the game for a set period of time, after which the timer triggers the hide icon feature of the app,” published by Avast Threat Operations Analyst Jakub Vávra, in a blog post. “Once the icon is hidden, the app starts to display ads throughout the device without needing further actions from the user.

Many of the Trojan apps found by the Avast researchers’ team also tend to open the browser to display users’ intrusive advertisements. Since the apps cover their icon after a specific period, their customers cannot learn the significance of the ads they see on their mobile screens. That said, the Trojan apps can still be deleted through the device’s app manager.

The Avast team have learned that each of the apps discovered had a different author with a standard email address mentioned on Google Play. “The Terms of Service are similar across the discovered apps, probably pointing to one actor’s active campaign,” added Vávra.

15 Million users in total downloaded over the apps that bring the Trojan HiddenAds. Find Hidden Differences, Skate Board-New, Tony Shoot-NEW, Stacking Guys, and Spot Hidden Differences are some of the most downloaded titles that were alive at publishing this article.

The researcher’s study discovered the most prevalence of the HiddenAds campaign through the apps in Brazil, Turkey, and India. It further extended across several areas, however.

An email was sent to Google for further details but did not receive a response yet.

It’s not the first time that Trojan Apps on Google Play are discovered.

This is notably not the first time when Google Play is found to have apps that can steal user information. In July last year, Avast detected apps installed a combined 1,30,000 times with the nature of stalking users. Bot mitigation company White Ops in its research paper published earlier this month, also revealed that Google removed at least 38 apps from its Google Play store that infested Android devices with out-of-context advertisements.

Importantly, it’s not the first time that Trojan Apps on Google Play are being discovered having the ability to steal user data. Avast found applications activated a total of 1,30,000 times in July of last year with the essence of consumers hacking. White Ops, a bot management service, also disclosed in its research article released earlier this month that Google banned at least 38 apps from its Google Play store that littered Android devices with out-of-context ads.

Avast has urged users to look carefully for such apps request permissions while installing them on their smartphones. It is also essential that you take some patience to study the privacy policy and the terms of service of the installed apps. Additionally, users are advised to avoid installing apps that have received a significant number of negative feedback.

Recent Posts

More from Author

Read Now

How To Fix Gpu Sag? An Easy Guide

GPU sag is a common issue that many PC builders face. It happens when the weight of a heavy graphics card causes it to droop or lean downwards, often noticeable when viewed from the side of the PC case. Although GPU sag is primarily a cosmetic concern,...

Best Wi-Fi Extenders: Get Faster Internet For Your Home

In today’s digital age, having a reliable and fast internet connection is crucial for everything from professional work to online entertainment. However, Wi-Fi signals can sometimes be weak, especially in larger homes or buildings with multiple floors and thick walls. This is where Wi-Fi extenders come in....

Revolutionizing YouTube Video Editing with AI Tools

As YouTube continues to dominate as a platform for creators and businesses, video production demands are growing. The need for high-quality, engaging content is at an all-time high, but so are the time and resources required to produce it. Fortunately, YouTube AI editing tools have emerged as...

Best Graphics Cards for Photo Editing: A Complete Guide

When it comes to photo editing, the right graphics card plays a crucial role in enhancing your editing performance, boosting productivity, and ensuring accurate color rendering. While the CPU handles most basic editing tasks, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) accelerates specific tasks like rendering, applying filters, and...

Improving Efficiency with Smart Data Acquisition

In today's fast-paced, data-driven world, businesses are increasingly focusing on ways to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve productivity. Smart Data Acquisition (SDA) is one of the most promising solutions that is transforming industries across the globe. By integrating technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT),...

The Best Practices to Enhance Your Chatbot Security

In 2025, chatbots have evolved to become crucial tools in customer service, sales, and user interaction. However, with this increased reliance on AI-driven automation comes an increased risk of cyberattacks and data breaches. Safeguarding these intelligent systems has never been more critical. Chatbot security plays a central...

What are DoS and DDoS Attacks & How to Prevent Them?

In today's interconnected world, where businesses and organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms to operate, cyber threats are a growing concern. Among these, Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are among the most common and damaging threats. These attacks can bring down...

10 Reasons Why SEO is Important for Your E-commerce Website

E-commerce has revolutionized how businesses reach customers, but success in this space isn't guaranteed. Simply having an online store is not enough; without visibility, your products remain hidden in the vast sea of competition. That’s where SEO for e-commerce websites comes in. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the...

How to upload Instagram videos to Snapchat

Social media platforms are constantly evolving, and content creators are always looking for new ways to cross-post their videos for maximum exposure. Instagram and Snapchat, two of the biggest social media giants, have different content formats, but that doesn't mean you can’t share videos between them. Many users...

How To Blur Images on Instagram: Complete Guide

Blurring images on Instagram is a great way to add artistic effects, emphasize subjects, or hide sensitive information. While Instagram lacks a direct blur tool, you can still achieve blur effects using filters, third-party apps, or editing techniques. Whether you’re trying to create a soft-focus background, blur...

Google Play Music Makes File Transfer Easier From Play Music

Google Play Music has long been a favorite platform for streaming and storing personal music collections. With its easy file transfer options, users can move their music across devices or migrate their library to other platforms without hassle. Whether you're switching to YouTube Music, downloading your library,...

How to Download Videos Online? Alternative Ways

Many users want to download videos online for offline access, archiving, or personal use. However, different websites have various restrictions on downloading their content. Some platforms allow direct downloads, while others require third-party tools or alternative solutions. To help you save videos safely and efficiently, we have compiled...