Do you assume that anything you download from Google Play is automatically safe from malware? Unfortunately, that’s far from the case. The Google Play store is very open and gives developers tons of freedom when listing their apps. This also means that hackers have the freedom to list their malware-infected apps on the Google Play store. Unfortunately, a number of Android Games are infected with Malware.
This problem was noticed back in 2012 when Google introduced a security system called Bouncer, which screened each app on the Google Play store for malware. The system did help reduce the number of malicious apps on the Google Play store. Sadly some apps can still slip through the cracks. In fact, Google Play hosts a number of malware-infected apps to this day.
Numerous Android apps contain malware. You’re best off familiarizing yourself with them. And avoid them or delete them if you already have them on your phone. Keep reading to find out which Android games host infections with malware and how to protect your device.
Android games known to contain malware:
Google has already removed many of these apps from the Google Play store, but it’s your job to delete them from your phone in case you’ve downloaded any of them in the past. Here’s the list:
- Helicopter Attack – NEW
- Draw Color by Number
- Throw into Space
- Find 5 Differences
- Jump Jump
- Find Hidden
- Fly Skater 2020
- Throw Master
- Iron it
- Shoot Master
- Find the Differences – Puzzle Game
- Joy Woodworker
How to protect your device from malware:
Games are obviously not the only source of malware for your device. You can also infect your device with malware through links, pop-ups, emails, or really anything you download from the internet. To keep your device malware-free, or at least decrease the damage malware causes, follow these tips:
- Use antivirus software – antivirus software will help keep malware out of your device even if you accidentally infect it.
- Employ an Android password manager – this tool will encrypt your passwords, making it very tough for anyone to access them through malware.
- Use two-factor authentication – keep outsiders from accessing your accounts by adding a crucial second factor of authentication, such as your phone number or biometrics.
- Be careful when clicking on links – whether it’s a link you get through email, a pop-up, or even a friend, you can never be sure there isn’t a hacker behind that link trying to steal your data.
What happens if you play a malware-infected game?
So what exactly is the big deal with malware, and what damage can it cause? Well, depending on the type of malware you get on your device, here are some things that might happen:
- Your passwords get stolen – along with all information you keep on those accounts.
- You can be spied on – spyware is a type of malware that slowly collects data on you by monitoring everything you do on your device.
- Your friends receive messages from you with malware-infected links – if your account gets hacked, the hacker might send out messages to all of your friends inviting them to download something by clicking on a given link.
- You receive a bunch of ads – if your device is infected with adware, companies might use it to spam you with ads.
- Your servers are used by third parties in the background – hackers might try to use your server power for activities like crypto mining, which requires lots of server power and will greatly slow down your device.
The bottom line
As reputable as Google Play may seem, you can’t be sure that the games you download from here are safe and malware-free. Try to refrain from downloading random and little-known games and keep in mind that anything you install on your device may potentially contain malware. Now you know the risks that malware-infected games pose, and you know how to protect your device from malware, so please use this information wisely.
