A large-scale Android adware campaign has been targeting users worldwide through apps that drain battery and cause pop-ups – here’s how to check if you’ve been affected
Anyone carrying an Android device would be sensible to examine whether any recently installed applications are hampering performance and causing sluggish operation. Check Point specialists have verified that a widespread Android adware operation has been striking users across the globe, and falling prey to it could prove extremely vexing.
Whilst this newest malware doesn’t pilfer personal information or banking credentials, it can quietly sap resources and interfere with standard phone functionality. This occurs due to relentless background processes triggered by the adware.
Every application discovered to harbour the bug – christened “GhostAd” – has been disguising itself as innocent utility and emoji-editing programmes, reports the Express. “Behind their cheerful icons, these apps created a persistent background advertising engine – one that kept running even after users closed or rebooted their devices, quietly consuming battery and mobile data,” Check Point explained.
It’s believed that during its height, the operation was employing no fewer than 15 compromised applications to target unwitting Android users. What renders the situation more concerning is that several were accessible through Google’s official Play Store.
That’s precisely why countless individuals have ended up installing them. It’s understood that one application even climbed to second place in Google Play’s “Top Free Tools” rankings. Those unlucky enough to have downloaded them have subsequently reported issues including relentless pop-up advertisements, disappearing app icons during uninstallation attempts, and handsets becoming sluggish or unresponsive.
Google has now confirmed it has pulled all the compromised applications following alerts from Check Point about the matter. Nevertheless, if you’ve already downloaded the app, it won’t be automatically removed, making this an ideal moment to review your applications and delete anything that’s been hampering your device’s performance.
“The GhostAd campaign blurs the line between marketing and malware,” Check Point explained. “It shows how everyday advertising tools, when combined with persistence and obfuscation, can quietly undermine user trust in mobile ecosystems.
“Millions of Android users unknowingly became part of a hidden ad network, their phones repurposed to generate revenue at their expense. As mobile threats evolve, so do the creative abuses of legitimate SDKs. GhostAd is a reminder that not every threat hides in the shadows – some sit openly in the app store, disguised as harmless fun.”
Prior to downloading any applications, always examine the reviews, ensure the developer maintains a solid reputation and exercise caution regarding the permissions you authorise.
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