Google Play Removes 16 Apps for Excessive Data Use and Battery Drain: See List

Google has removed 16 "utility" applications that used infected devices to perpetrate ad fraud by artificially raising interaction on adverts.

According to reports, Google has Removed 16 applications from the Play Store that were causing quicker battery depletion and increased network consumption on customers' smartphones. According to a study, the programs, which were discovered by a security firm, reportedly committed ad fraud by opening web sites in the background and clicking on adverts while posing as actual users. According to the security firm, the applications had a total of 20 million installs before being removed from the Play Store.

According to Ars Technica, Google has banned 16 apps from the Play Store after McAfee discovered them. According to the security firm, the apps, which were previously accessible for download on Android smartphones and tablets, were classified as utility programs that allowed users to scan QR codes, utilize the device's flash as a light, or convert various metrics.

BusanBus, Joycode, Currency Converter, High-Speed Camera, Smart Task Manager, Flashlight+, K-Dictionary, Quick Note, EzDica, Instagram Profile Downloader, and Ez Notes are among the apps that have been deleted.

McAfee discovered that when these programs were accessed, they would download code and get notifications to open web sites without informing the user, click on links and adverts. This conduct would artificially increase the engagement on these adverts, a type of ad fraud.

The security company discovered that the uninstalled applications had adware code named "com.liveposting" and "com.click.cas," libraries that allowed them to click on links and adverts. This would happen without the user's knowledge, resulting in further battery depletion and higher network consumption.

According to Google, all of the applications have been deleted from the Play Store, and Play Protect has blocked these apps on consumers' devices. However, McAfee's revelation that the applications would download extra code after installation shows that they were able to circumvent Google's Play Store defenses.