Apps for cell phones Android with over 700.000 installs are using a new trick to avoid being completely removed.
Three Android apps, published on Google Play Store and were used to display unwanted ads, they have been observed to use a clever technique to prevent the user from uninstalling them.
According to ESET security researcher Lukas Stefanko, these apps are Super Camera Lite, Excellent Camera, and Ideal Camera had over 700.000 installs on the Play Store.
Once one of the above apps is installed on an Android device, the system automatically creates an icon to launch it. However, after the first run, its main icon applications is deleted and a second one is created only by selecting “Remove” the application and not by uninstalling it.
This method is designed to deceive users to believe they uninstall the app from their device while in fact it stays on the device and continues to display unwanted ads because only the second icon is deleted.
Stefanko also found a second list of apps based on the same method, once again aimed at spamming users with ads. All the apps are photo editors or cameras, with normal functionality, the researcher explains security.
Recommended for users always read the comments before downloading and installing an app from the Google Play Store. Removing an app should either be done from the Google Play Store or app settings from the phone and not by tapping the removal option that appears when you hold down its icon on the home screen.
