Android owners urged to delete three dangerous ‘clone’ apps today – or risk a nasty bank raid

ANDROID owners have been urged to delete three dangerous apps that had been masquerading as messengers in the Google Play store.

Cyber researchers at ESET have rung the alarm on a trio of nasty apps that aim to steal Android owners' personal information - and even their banking credentials.

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These apps are posing as messaging services and offer basic, but functional services as bait.

At surface level, they work and appear legitimate - but they're not.

Behind the scenes, they are hiding open-source XploitSPY malware.

Hackers have been advertising these apps - and others that are similar - on websites and on the Google Play store.

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While Google is generally very good at detecting and removing malicious apps - some do slip through the cracks.

The apps exist to steal contact lists, camera files, location, download data, as well as your WhatsApp and Telegram.

Android owners have been urged to check their devices for these three apps:

• Dink Messenger
• Sim Info
• Defcom

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If you have downloaded one of these apps, it is advised to delete them immediately.

They have since been removed from the Google Play store, but may still be lurking on your phone.

They form part of a targeted campaign, which began in November 2021, to distribute malware onto Android phones primarily in India and Pakistan, according to ESET.

Five more risky apps

In February, Android owners were warned about another five risky apps that had recently been removed from the Google Play store.

The group contain a hidden banking trojan called Anatsa which has previously targeted users in a number of countries, including the UK.

Once the app is on your phone, a hacker can take over and perform tasks without you knowing.

The most damaging thing they can do is access personal information and make payments from your banking apps.

The apps to look out for and delete are:

• Phone Cleaner - File Explorer 
• PDF Viewer - File Explorer
• PDF Reader - Viewer & Editor 
• Phone Cleaner: File Explorer 
• PDF Reader: File Manager