Security

Security

Your privacy and rights online. Cybersecurity trends, hacking news, and policies to safeguard digital assets in a data-driven world.

millions android malware

Millions of Android phones come with pre-installed malware, and there's no easy fix

A hot potato: The Google Play Store is notorious for harboring apps that contain malware, adware, or some flavor of spyware or fleeceware. A lesser-known fact is that hackers are increasingly targeting pre-installed apps for their misdeeds, and researchers are trying to raise awareness about this growing trend. Millions of affordable Android phones come with numerous pre-installed apps, and hackers only need to subvert one. However, addressing this issue is significantly more challenging than dealing with rogue apps that find their way into the Play Store.