Dangerous phone malware could cost you big bucks

We’ve got a warning about a dangerous Android Malware that could end up costing you a whole lot of money.

This malware is particularly tricky because it managed to sneak past the safeguards in the Google Play store and infect 50 apps!  It may have been download 4.2 million times according to the security experts at Check Point.

It’s called ExpensiveWall and the name can be accurate because it sends fake text messages and causes you to get charged for fake services. Check Point says they notified Google about the apps and Google removed them. But within a couple of days, it was back in the form of another app. These apps ranged from wallpapers to camera apps to games.

Not only can this malware run up fake charges, it can also spy on you by taking pictures or video and stealing data from your phone.

Below is a list of the apps. If you have any of these apps installed, you should delete them immediately and probably reset your phone to wipe out any traces they may have left behind. You’ll notice one of the apps is called File Manager. That doesn’t mean that every File Manager app out there is malware.  This one was first uploaded to the Google Play Store in December of 2016.  And you would have sought it out and downloaded it separately. The File Manager that came with your phone would not be affected.

Check Point goes way more into detail about the issue here.

To look for these apps on your phone, go to Settings and scroll down to Apps. You may need to then tap App manager. (each Android device is a little different.)

Scroll down to look for the apps in question.  Tap on the questionable app.

Then choose Uninstall.  (This is just an example. There’s nothing wrong with Iheartradio.)