Sneaky Clicker Adware in Google Play

Security researchers at McAfee have discovered a set of 16 malicious clicker apps that managed to sneak into Google Play, the official app store for Android.

Clicker apps are a special category of adware that loads ads in invisible frames or in the background and clicks them to generate revenue for their operators.

The effect on the device may be a drop in performance, overheating, increased battery usage, and inflated mobile data charges.

All 16 apps have been removed from Google Play after McAfee reported them. However, they still amassed an install count of 20 million.

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https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/android-adware-apps-in-google-play-downloaded-