Android smartphone users are no stranger to warnings of dangerous apps lurking in the depths of the Google Play Store. However, the latest threat affects both iPhone owners and their Android counterparts. Users were put on alert after Avast security researchers released a report singling out hundreds of apps designed to trick users into spending huge sums of money once the software was downloaded and installed on their devices.
This type of threat is known as “fleeceware” because users often do not know what fees to pay for using an app. The developers therefore harass them by keeping the costs of installing the apps a secret.
It’s clearly a big problem. According to Avast, this latest suite of applications has been downloaded between iPhone and Android over a billion times and generated a staggering $ 400 million (£ 300 million) in revenue for the developers of these “fleeceware” apps.
To entice users to download, the developers are offering a free trial. Once this finishes, the automatic charges will be debited from bank accounts linked to your Play Store or App Store account. This, of course, is the same way that legitimate apps like Candy Crush work – but what sets “Fleeceware” apart is that you are often charged for nothing or an exorbitant amount in return (a couple of wallpapers, for example).
One of the apps Avast discovered offers a short free trial. Once this ends, users will be billed a whopping $ 66 per week subscription which could cost the victim $ 3,432 (£ 2,500) per year unless canceled.
READ MORE: WhatsApp Warning: New Message Block Confirmed For Some iPhone Users
Avast has now published advice on avoiding these fleeceware apps. The security team said, “As subscriptions become more common in app stores, users are encouraged to be vigilant while downloading and using applications.”
To avoid fleece, Avast says:
• Be careful with free trials of less than a week. Applications that offer free trials for a very short time should be treated with caution. Make sure you understand how much you’re being charged and that the app is worth the recurring fee.
• Be wary of viral ads for apps. The advertisements for fleeceware are likely to have enticing messages and images to grab users’ attention. They are unlikely to reflect the actual functionality of the application.
• Read the fine print. A closer look will likely reveal the app’s true price. Read the details of the application carefully, referring to the “In-App Purchases” sections. Familiarize yourself with the terms of your subscription, even if it is a free trial, as automatic fees may apply afterwards.
• Secure your payments. Make sure your payment methods are locked behind a password or biometric check. This can also prevent accidental subscriptions from children.
HERE IS A FULL LIST OF THE APPS MENTIONED BY AVAST
Android users need to delete the following apps from their devices ~
Piano Free – Keyboard with Magic Tiles music games
edjing Mix – Free Music DJ App
Real Guitar Free – Chords, Tabs & Simulator Games
Desire for slime
FortuneScope: Live Palm Reader and Fortune Teller
ToonMe – cartoon self photo editor
Guitar – play music games, pro tabs and chords!
Drums: real drum music games to play and learn to play with
Drum Set Music Games & Drums Kit Simulator
Drum Pads – Beat Maker Go
Piano – play music and learn
Beat Maker Pro – Music Maker Drum Pad
Magic Face: face aging, young camera, fantastic app
ToonApp: AI Cartoon Photo Editor, cartoon itself
Palm Secret – Palm Reader, cartoon photo, fun
Palmistry
Daily horoscope, palmistry, numerology – Astroline
Insta Story Art Maker for Instagram – StoryChic
FX master
Sing karaoke songs!
Relax – Daily Palmistry, Future Baby, Palm Scanner
Life Coach: Predicting Baby, Palm Reader & Facial Aging
QR & barcode scanner
Palm Reader – horoscope, palmistry and fortune telling
Palm Reading: Predicting the Future through Palm Reading
Fog: Horoscope & Astrology
Life Palmistry – AI Palm & Gender & Prediction
Miami Rope Hero – Light Speed Frog Black ninja hole
Motorcycle Games 2020 – New Bike Racing Game
Sticky Slime – ASMR slime simulator
TeasEar – ASMR meditation and slime simulator games
Realistic ASMR slime simulator
Slime Simulator – Super ASMR game
BeSticky – Sticker Maker for WhatsApp
Dj it! – music mixer
Jambl: Beat Maker & Dj Music Creator
Loop Maker Pro – music maker
Piano – music games for playing and learning songs for free
Guitar Tuner Pro – Tune your guitar, bass and ukulele
Guitar Playing – Games & Songs
Famio: Connect with the family
AiScan: All QR code, scanner and barcode reading devices
PDF document scanner
Photo Editor Pro – Kooky
Palmistry – a short Chinese guide to palm reading
SeekMe – Palm Scan Cartoon Camera Baby Prediction
My Palmistry & Astrology: Face Aging & Palm Reader
Jelly: Slimes & ASMR, anti-stress simulation games
Sticky Slime – Fancy Slime Simulator ASMR
Horoscope 2019 and palmistry – everyday forecast
Slimes satisfy asmr. Do diy. Schleimmacher
Plant lens – plant and flower identification
Easy presets
FortuneScan – Predicting the Future through Palm Reading
Eon – astrology and daily horoscope
Fortunescan – Palmistry, Palm Reader & Horoscope
Stellium daily horoscope
PalmistryHD – Palm Reading & Daily Horoscope
Palm Expert – reading palmistry, horoscopes and tarot
Soular
Astrology & Palm Master
Facetory: Facial Yoga & Facial Exercises
Blossom – Plant Identification App
Music Zen – Relaxing sounds
PDF Document Reader
DayStress Relief: Relaxation and anti-stress app
Tarot numerology: reading cards
Astrospot: horoscope matches, daily predictions
Perfect Slime Simulator – ASMR & Satisfying Game
Face scan: horoscope & astrology
iPhone owners need to delete the following apps from their devices ~
Filterra – photo editor
Frames – Picture Collage Maker
Facelab – Face Editor & Beauty
TeasEar: ASMR Slime Antistress
StoryChic – IG story templates
Photo Splash – photo editor
Fog: Horoscope & Astrology
Cute Selfie: Photo Editor, Cam
Cartoon yourself & caricature
Astroline: The daily horoscope
FLMX – Video Editor
Stickerfy: Sticker Maker
Pixomatic – eraser in the background
SpeedPro Slow video editing
Fortunescope: Palm Reader
Music Zen – Relaxing sounds
Sticker Maker – BeSticky
Picsjoy: Image processing & cropping
Photo for sketching – drawing book
FX master
Mood balance: journal, tracker
Preferences for Lightroom – Vidl
Puzzle – brain games
Lift: Story Maker
Dazzle – Insta Stories Editor
Baby Sticker – Track Milestones
Life Palmistry – AI Palm & Tag
Girl Games & Fun Cooking Games
Remove the photoly object and editor
Facetory: Facial Yoga & Movement
VOCHI Cool Video Effects Maker
Happy life – future seekers
Voice Changer – Avatar
Face Seer – Time Traces
Dazz Cam-D3D photo effect
Translator -AI & real time
Picsloop cartoon & D3D effect
Beat.ly Music Video Maker
Funny clip maker
Pixels – color by numbers
Cartoon Photo Editor-Comic Art
Youni – photo effects, presets
UltraFX – Effect Video Maker
Girls Games: Unicorn Slime
Everbloom – Stories Editor
Printed – Insta Story Editor
PDF scanner: document scanning
Zodiac Astrology & Horoscope
Beat.ly – music video maker
Dizzi – photo and video effects
TikCut – Video Editor Tempo MV
Hyper Cleaner: clean phone
Photic – Pic & Photo Editor
Highlight Story Cover Maker!
Cartoonify Photo Editor Camera
PicMagic- Cartoon Photo Editor
Cartoons Me – photo art editor
Vidos – music video maker
Camera +: Photo video & cutout
Piconic – image editing & collage
Cute Pictures – Baby Photo Editor
FX Mage – Magical Video Effects
Slimy: Anxiety Relief Slime 3D
Frame – Slideshow Video Maker
Car Sticker Maker Studio
iCons – Icon Changer App +
ToonApp Cartoon Photo Editor
MagicFX – Magic video effects
Horoscope 2019 and Palm Reader
PolyColor – color by polygon
Famous: celebrity look Alike
BoomArt – Auto Cutout
Slime Boutique by TeasEar
Handset – Second phone number
Pixpic color by number
SlidePic – Slideshow Maker
Widja – photo widgets
Astro + horoscope & astrology
FaceMe – Funny personality tests
Watercolor effect oil painting
Widget PLUS + – Photo & Weather
Wordy – word search adventure
KeyTune – Custom keyboard
aipic – Magic Photo Editor
PicsFX: photo and video editor
Path – Horoscope & Astrology
Magical makeup – tattoo design
tmm – Chat Fiction Stories
Photo collage – Collageable
Follower + -My Ins reports
Hub – Story Templates Maker
iWidget Pro: Custom widgets
VidTempo – music video maker
Video Puzzles – Magic Puzzle
Funny Face Swap Me – GIF Maker
Body Editor: Male Body & Hair
Flame: Smart Online App
Menu Maker!
Fortunescan: Palmistry Online
Video Maker – Photo Effects
edjing Mix – DJ App
Guitar – chords, tabs & games
Piano Lessons & Tile Games
Beat Maker Go – make music
WeDrum: drums, real drum games
Metronome – Tap Tempo and Rhythm
Guitar tuner – ukulele & bass
Guitar – real games & lessons
Drums: Play Beats & Drum Games
Piano – music & keyboard play
Guitar tuner pro, bass, ukulele
Beat Maker Pro – DJ Drum Pad
Karaoke songs – vocals
Piano Crush – keyboard games
edjing Pro – music remix maker
Dj it! – Music mixing pad
Jambl: DJ Band & Beat Maker
Guitar Playing – Games & Songs
Memoristo: brain test, IQ game
Loop Maker Pro – music maker
Metronome Pro – Beat & Tempo
Equalizer + HD music player
Bass Booster Volume power amplifier
Equalizer Fx: Bass Booster App
ScanGuru: PDF document scanner
Drinking water ∙ Daily reminder
Password manager – lock apps
Live wallpaper maker: 4K theme
RECOLLECT: color by number
Avatar Maker Character Creator
Translator Guru: Voice & Text
Ringtones HD ∙ Ringtone Maker
Scanner app ∙ Scan and sign PDF
Translate camera – keep talking
