Google deletes 13 Apps from Play Store

Search engine giant, Google Inc, has deleted 13 malware ridden Apps from the Google Play Store after it was discovered that these apps made unauthorized downloads to the Android devices.

The list of apps removed from the Google Play store includes Honeycomb, Just Fire, Cake Blast, Crazy Block, Drag Box, Tiny Puzzle, Jump Planet, Ninja Hook, Piggy Jump, Eat Bubble, Hit Planet, Cake Tower, and Crazy Jelly.

All the apps are games, and targeted at a young audience.

The steps were taken after Google was notified by the mobile security firm Lookout that these apps made unauthorized downloads to the Android devices.

One of the 13 apps, which was known as Honeycomb, had as many as one million downloads before it was removed, according to researchers from Lookout.

These Apps try to get the root privileges and when given they copy numerous device files to the system partition that remains untouched even after factory resetting the device, Lookout explained, Times of India reported. The apps boosted high download numbers and automatically posted positive reviews on the Play store.

Lookout further stated that the best way to get rid of the malware is to re-flash ROM supplied by the device's manufacturer.

Lookout further explained that the malware authors made use of different names and techniques to see what app could be published in the Play store while flying under the radar.