Android mobile apps with over 700,000 installs are using a new trick to avoid being completely removed.
Three Android apps, published on the Google Play Store and used to display unwanted ads, have been observed using a clever technique to prevent the user from uninstalling them.
According to ESET security researcher Lukas Stefanko, these apps are Super Camera Lite, Excellent Camera, and Ideal Camera and had over 700,000 installs on the Play Store.
Once one of the above apps is installed on an Android device, the system automatically creates an icon to launch it. However, after the first run, the main app icon is deleted and a second one is only created by selecting the “Remove” option of the app, not uninstalling it.
This method is designed to trick users into believing that they are uninstalling the app from their device, when in reality, it remains on the device and continues to display unwanted ads, because only the second icon is deleted.
Stefanko also found a second list of apps based on the same method, once again aimed at spamming users with ads. All of the apps are photo or camera editors, with normal functionality, the security researcher explains.
It is recommended that users always read reviews before downloading and installing an app from the Google Play Store. Uninstalling an app should be done either from the Google Play Store or from the app settings on the phone and not by tapping the uninstall option that appears when you long-press its icon on the home screen.
