Do you download apps from Google PlayStore? You might be in trouble

A new malware on Android has popped up, infecting around a million users while hidden inside seemingly harmless apps. A recent report revealed that a malware strain has plagued the Google PlayStore in selected QR Code apps.

According to SophosLabs, the new malware had infiltrated the Google PlayStore by means of seven different Android apps — six QR code reader apps and one smart compass. The report reveals that the infected apps have been downloaded more than 500,000 times. This is seemingly a decisive vulnerability in the Android platform as the malware managed to bypass the Google Play security system.

Furthermore, the released information doesn't reveal the name of the apps. The malware, dubbed Andr/HiddnAd-AJ, lies dormant on devices for about six hours after installation and then bombards smartphones with ads and notifications.

"Following installation, the malware waits for six hours before it begins work on its true purpose — serving up adware, flooding the user with full-screen adverts, opening adverts on web pages and sending various notifications containing ad related links," wrote ZDNet's Danny Palmer.

Following the issue, Google has pulled the malware-laden apps from the PlayStore. However, Sophos is still recommending users to depend on Google Play for all app installations despite the security breach as its multiple layers of scrutiny still makes it more competent than other third-party stores.

As for our readers, events like this serve as warnings to stay suspicious of app installations from app depositories. We advise you to double-check the nature of apps, even while downloading from the PlayStore. It’s also advisable to make use of a security suite on your Android device to protect your data and privacy from prying malicious minds on the Internet.