There has always been a playful rivalry between iPhone and Android users. And although both platforms can be vulnerable to hackers and hacking attacks, Android’s far more lax attitude about apps and which apps you’re able to download in Google Play means two things: the user gets to obtain more creative control over the types of apps they download, and you have to be incredibly careful that the apps are not bogus. You may not find out until a few months after having downloaded an app that it is on tech experts’ watchlist of potentially nefarious apps that are trying to get control of your data and wreak havoc on your life.
Two Android apps have recently garnered negative attention for being “malicious” and “secretly signing you up to subscriptions to steal your cash.” Avoid these two apps or, if you’ve already downloaded them, delete them ASAP.
1. Wuta Camera
Photo editing apps are all the rage, with many of us searching for shortcuts to help make our pictures and video look more visually impressive. One such app that promises this and more is Wuta Camera, created by a little-known developer called Benqu. The app currently has 10 million downloads, but has been found to contain malware that signs you up for costly subscriptions and gains access to your data. The malware has since been removed, but it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth taking that risk.
2. Max Browser
Max Browser is an app designed by a developer called 'WA message recover-wamr' that has 1 million downloads. It was also discovered to be downloading subscriptions to its users’ accounts. The app has since been removed from Google Play, which is a solid move, but it isn’t always a good idea to rely on Android to police Google Play for you (it can sometimes take awhile for the platform to catch onto dangerous apps). If you ever notice what appears to be fraudulent subscription charges on your bank account, take them seriously. Follow up with your bank to find out the origin of these charges so that you can delete malicious apps as soon as possible.
