The third most popular tool app on the Play Store – Barcode Scanner – is no longer available in the store. Google launched the app after a security company identified serious malware that displayed unwanted advertising on users’ phones
Malwarebytes, which is the security company that found the malicious code, says that a later update to the app included a so-called trojan that infects the mobile phones in the background.
Then the browser is opened in time and out of time to present tricky ads that cybercriminals make money on.
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The really tricky thing is that Barcode Scanner did not always have that Trojan, but in the past the app has been a fully legitimate barcode scanner that millions of users have benefited from.
In fact, more than 10 million had Barcode Scanners on their mobile phones worldwide.
At the time of writing, it is unclear whether it is the developer Lavabird Ltd who deliberately tried an ugly thing or whether they were hacked.
Lavabird Ltd has several other apps on the Google Play Store at the time of writing.
Even if the Barcode Scanner is removed, the other apps will continue to receive regular updates.
We do not know today if these are also affected by the same Trojan.
Read more about the news on 9to5google here.
