Malware feels like a term from decades ago, but never fear, it is still prolific and dangerous. The term “malware” is a contraction of “malicious software.” Put simply, it is any piece of software that was written with the intent of damaging devices, stealing data and generally causing a mess. This topic came to our attention from the Boy Genius Report (BGR) in their article, “Stop what you’re doing and delete these Android apps right now.”

Twenty-four applications have been found on the Google Play Store that are malware-laden and request various nefarious permissions and information. The apps cover everything from weather to camera functionality, and Google has booted them all off the Play Store. Unfortunately downloads took place prior to their removal – downloads in the numbers around 382 million.

Some of the apps were Weather Forecast, Sound Recorder, Joy Launcher and Dig It. Check out the article for the complete list and then check your phone.

Melody K. Smith

Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.