Published: May 31, 2023 on our newsletter Security Fraud News & Alerts Newsletter.
Hold onto your hats and glasses, folks! The Google Play Store, a seemingly innocent playground for our beloved apps, was recently invaded by not one, not two, but eleven troublemakers! These mischievous applications, armed with the sneaky Trojan name Fleckpe, posed as innocent programs while harboring devious intentions. Some are wallpaper apps for mobile devices and others are editing apps. None are safe to download. Even worse? They’ll send your money away without you having a clue.
Here's the Scoop
When an unsuspecting user decides to download a wallpaper or tinker with their precious photos by doing a bit of editing, the Trojan springs into action like a hidden ninja. It sneakily opens an invisible browser page, all while the user is blissfully unaware, and voilà! User is enrolled in a paid subscription service without even realizing it. And the cherry on top of that ice cream surprise? Hard-earned money goes straight into the pockets of those wicked masterminds.
But wait, there's more! Although the apps have been booted out of the Google Play Store, they might still be lurking on your poor, unsuspecting mobile device. Oh, the horror! It's like a suspenseful thriller that just won't quit.
Still Lurking, Maybe
Now, don't go thinking this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Unfortunately, these types of shenanigans happen more often than you'd like to believe. It's like a game of whack-a-mole with these sneaky apps. They pop up left and right, keeping us on our toes and our antivirus software busy.
What are these mischievous apps? Here’s a quick list:
Beauty Camera Plus
Beauty Photo Camera
Beauty Slimming Photo Editor
Fingertip Graffiti
GIF Camera Editor
HD 4K Wallpaper
Impressionism Pro Camera
Microclip Video Editor
Night Mode Camera Pro
Photo Camera Editor
Photo Effect Editor
Perhaps it’s better to use an unedited photo of your pet as your wallpaper to avoid Fleckpe. But if you do want to dabble in photo editing a bit, check the review on the apps before downloading anything. If they are glowing with five-star reviews, it might be a better choice to just skip that one and check out something else.
So, my dear tech-savvy compadres, stay vigilant! These apps have been removed from the Play Store, but it’s still necessary to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviors lurking in your mobile devices and make sure you're not unknowingly funding the criminal underworld through secret subscriptions. And remember, in the world of apps, trust is as precious as that perfect selfie. Stay safe out there!
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