Google has already done multiple cleanups on Play Store in the past, removing apps infested with Windows Malware and adware, and even stalking apps.Īs Android malware becomes more common, Google has to be more restrictive about the apps entering its platform. If users tried to access the apps' advertised features, they would be presented with more SMS subscriptions, or the app would just stop working. After giving their details, users would instead subscribe to premium SMS services that charge up to $40 a month. Users with any of the listed apps should install them immediately.ĭisguised as custom keyboards, QR code scanners, video and photo editors, spam call blockers, camera filters, and games, these apps would check the phone's location, IMEI, and phone number to "determine which country area code and language to use for the scam."Īfter opening the app, users would then be presented with a prompt to fill in with their phone number, and sometimes, the email address so users could supposedly access the app's advertising features.
Google has already banned all 151 flagged from the Play Store but doesn't have the power to uninstall them from a user's device. In total, users downloaded the scammy apps over 10.5 million times in over 80 countries, including the US (170,000 downloads). You can check the complete list of apps on Avast's GitHub. The first was Ultima Keyboard 3D Pro, for which the campaign was named.
Once installed, these apps would ask for your information to subscribe to a premium service that could cost you $40 a month.Īvast's investigation uncovered 151 apps linked to the UltimaSMS campaign. This campaign consisted of apps that were available to download from Google Play Store. In context: Avast has been making a thorough investigation into a premium scam campaign named UltimaSMS.
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