The Joker malware family is very insidious: it regularly changes trace signators and execution methods, making it difficult for anti-malware apps to detect.
Their goal is to steal SMS messages, contact lists and device information and sign the victim up for premium Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) services. Researchers from ThreatLabz have now discovered Joker malware in over 50 apps in the Google Playstore.

Researchers notified the Google Android Security team about these newly identified threats, and the apps were immediately removed from the Google Playstore. However, they have already been downloaded over 300,000 times and are therefore likely to cause some damage.

The apps fall into very popular categories: communication, health, personalization, photography and tools, and are therefore often used, for example to have new emojis or a special keyboard on the smartphone.

These are the apps

We advise you to check your smartphone to see whether you have these apps installed. If yes: uninstall immediately!

MIMIKAMASimple Note Scanner – com.wuwan.pdfscan
MIMIKAMAUniversal PDF Scanner – com.unpdf.scan.read.docscanuniver
MIMIKAMAPrivate Messenger – com.recollect.linkus
MIMIKAMAPremium SMS – com.premium.put.trustsms
MIMIKAMASmart Messages – com.toukyoursms.timemessages
MIMIKAMAText Emoji SMS – messenger.itext.emoji.mesenger
MIMIKAMABlood Pressure Checker – com.bloodpressurechecker.tangjiang
MIMIKAMAFunny Keyboard – com.soundly.galaxykeyboard
MIMIKAMAMemory Silent Camera – com.silentmenory.timcamera
MIMIKAMACustom Themed Keyboard – com.custom.keyboardthemes.galaxiy
MIMIKAMALight Messages – com.lilysmspro.lighting
MIMIKAMAThemes Photo Keyboard – com.themes.bgphotokeyboard
MIMIKAMASend SMS – exazth.message.send.text.sms
MIMIKAMAThemes Chat Messenger – com.relish.messengers
MIMIKAMAInstant Messenger – com.sbdlsms.crazymessager.mmsrec
MIMIKAMACool Keyboard – com.colate.gthemekeyboard
MIMIKAMAFonts Emoji Keyboard – com.zemoji.fontskeyboard
MIMIKAMAMini PDF Scanner – com.mnscan.minipdf
MIMIKAMASmart SMS Messages – com.sms.mms.message.ffei.free
MIMIKAMACreative Emoji Keyboard – com.whiteemojis.creativekeyboard.ledsloard
MIMIKAMAFancy SMS – con.sms.fancy
MIMIKAMAFonts Emoji Keyboard – com.symbol.fonts.emojikeyboards
MIMIKAMAPersonal Message – com.crown.personalmessage
MIMIKAMAFunny Emoji Message – com.funie.messagremo
MIMIKAMAMagic Photo Editor – com.amagiczy.photo.editor
MIMIKAMAProfessional Messages – com.adore.attached.message
MIMIKAMAAll Photo Translator – myphotocom.allfasttranslate.transationtranslator
MIMIKAMAChat SMS – com.maskteslary.messages
MIMIKAMASmile Emoji – com.balapp.smilewall.emoji
MIMIKAMAWow Translator – com.imgtop.camtranslator
MIMIKAMAAll Language Translate – com.exclusivez.alltranslate
MIMIKAMACool Messages – com.learningz.app.cool.messages
MIMIKAMABlood Pressure Diary – bloodhold.nypressure.mainheart.ratemy.mo.depulse.app.tracker.diary
MIMIKAMAChat Text SMS – com.echatsms.messageos
MIMIKAMAHi Text SMS – ismos.mmsyes.message.texthitext.bobpsms
MIMIKAMAEmoji Theme Keyboard – com.gobacktheme.lovelyemojikeyboard
MIMIKAMAiMessager – start.me.messager
MIMIKAMAText SMS – com.ptx.textsms
MIMIKAMACamera Translator – com.haixgoback.outsidetext.languagecameratransla
MIMIKAMACome Messages – com.itextsms.messagecoming
MIMIKAMAPainting Photo Editor – com.painting.pointeditor.photo
MIMIKAMARich Theme Message – com.getmanytimes.richsmsthememessenge
MIMIKAMAQuick Talk Message – mesages.qtsms.messenger
MIMIKAMAAdvanced SMS – com.fromamsms.atadvancedmmsopp
MIMIKAMAProfessional Messenger – com.akl.smspro.messenger
MIMIKAMAClassic Game Messenger – com.classcolor.formessenger.sic
MIMIKAMAStyle Message – com.istyle.messagesty
MIMIKAMAPrivate Game Messages – com.message.game.india
MIMIKAMATimestamp Camera – allready.taken.photobeauty.camera.timestamp
MIMIKAMASocial Message – com.colorsocial.message

Tools and communication apps in particular are particularly often contaminated with malware; ThreadLabz was even able to observe new uploads of infected apps every day.

How you can protect yourself from infected apps

As already written above: This malware often changes the signature and attack methods, so that installed anti-malware software often “lags behind”. However, simple precautionary measures can help keep your smartphone clean:

  • Don't install unnecessary apps: A fancy-looking keyboard won't make you type faster, and a special emoji won't make you the star of a chat
  • Only install apps from providers you know and trust
  • Pay attention to the age of the app and the reviews: Very new to the Google Playstore and/or only very few reviews? Then stay away!
  • Only install apps that are recommended by trustworthy media, such as specialist magazines: They generally check very carefully beforehand whether an app is safe
  • Pay attention to the access rights of the app: For example, a keyboard app does not need access to the camera and microphone

Children and young people in particular like to install apps that, for example, change standard icons or contain new emojis in order to personalize their smartphone. There's nothing wrong with that, but please make sure that you don't simply install untrustworthy apps on your children's smartphones - because even if they should be safe, it often happens that they just slow down the smartphone over time .

Article image: pixabay
Source: Zscaler ThreatLabz

Also interesting:

According to the survey, smileys are rarely clear - interpretations vary widely around the world.
Emojis often cause confusion


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