Heads up, Android users! The notorious HiddenAds adware again targets Android users by impersonating legit gaming apps like Minecraft. Users must review the applications installed on their devices to delete malicious apps.
Minecraft And Other Android Gaming App Clones Spread HiddenAds Adware
According to a detailed McAfee report, around 38 gaming apps are actively distributing the HiddenAds adware, targeting Android users. These apps even appeared on the Google Play Store, luring even those gamers who stick to downloading from official sources only.
As explained, these apps boasted millions of downloads on the Play Store, highlighting the widespread impact of the malicious campaign. For example, one such app, “Block Box Master Diamond,” boasted over 10 million downloads. Likewise, the other apps, “Craft Sword Mini Fun,” “Block Box Skyland Sword,” and “Craft Monster Crazy Sword,” garnered over 5 million downloads each.
Most of these malicious apps impersonated Minecraft to trick users. These apps didn’t alert the user immediately as they could still play the games. However, the adware would continue to run background ads, consuming the device’s resources.
List of Malicious Apps
The researchers have listed the following malicious apps found to be spreading this adware campaign.
| Application Name | Package Name | Google Play Downloads |
| Block Box Master Diamond | com.good.robo.game.builder.craft.block | 10M+ |
| Craft Sword Mini Fun | com.craft.world.fairy.fun.everyday.block | 5M+ |
| Block Box Skyland Sword | com.skyland.pet.realm.block.rain.craft | 5M+ |
| Craft Monster Crazy Sword | com.skyland.fun.block.game.monster.craft | 5M+ |
| Block Pro Forrest Diamond | com.monster.craft.block.fun.robo.fairy | 1M+ |
| Block Game Skyland Forrest | com.cliffs.realm.block.craft.rain.vip | 1M+ |
| Block Rainbow Sword Dragon | com.block.builder.build.clever.craft.boy | 1M+ |
| Craft Rainbow Mini Builder | com.fun.skyland.craft.block.monster.loki | 1M+ |
| Block Forrest Tree Crazy | com.skyland.craft.caves.game.monster.block | 1M+ |
| Craft Clever Monster Castle | com.box.block.craft.builder.cliffs.build | 500K+ |
| Block Monster Diamond Dragon | com.block.sun.game.box.build.craft | 500K+ |
| Craft World Fun Robo | com.builder.craft.diamond.block.clever.robo | 500K+ |
| Block Pixelart Tree Pro | com.block.master.boy.craft.cliffs.diamond | 500K+ |
| Craft Mini Lucky Fun | com.fun.block.everyday.boy.robo.craft | 500K+ |
| Block Earth Skyland World | com.builder.craft.block.sun.game.mini | 500K+ |
| Block Rainbow Monster Castle | com.dragon.craft.world.pixelart.block.vip | 500K+ |
| Block Fun Rainbow Builder | com.craft.vip.earth.everyday.block.game | 500K+ |
| Craft Dragon Diamond Robo | com.block.good.mini.craft.box.best | 500K+ |
| Block World Tree Monster | com.lucky.robo.craft.loki.block.good | 100K+ |
| Block Diamond Boy Pro | com.caves.robo.craft.dragon.block.earth | 100K+ |
| Block Lucky Master Earth | com.tree.world.city.block.craft.crazy | 100K+ |
| Craft Forrest Mini Fun | com.game.skyland.craft.monster.block.best | 100K+ |
| Craft Sword City Pro | com.everyday.vip.caves.house.block.craft | 100K+ |
| Block Loki Monster Builder | com.cell.rain.block.craft.loki.fairy | 100K+ |
| Block Boy Earth Mini | com.block.good.sun.boy.craft.fun | 100K+ |
| Block Crazy Builder City | com.fairy.builder.sun.skyland.craft.block | 100K+ |
| Craft Sword Vip Pixelart | com.monster.house.good.block.earth.craft | 100K+ |
| Block City Fun Diamond | com.block.best.boy.craft.sword.cell | 100K+ |
| Craft City Loki Rainbow | com.crazy.clever.city.block.caves.craft | 100K+ |
| Craft Boy Clever Sun | com.cliffs.builder.craft.block.lucky.earth | 100K+ |
| Block City Dragon Sun | com.lucky.best.block.game.diamond.craft | 100K+ |
| Craft Loki Forrest Monster | com.build.craft.boy.loki.master.block | 100K+ |
| Lokicraft: Forrest Survival 3D | com.build.lokicrafts.master.forest | 50K+ |
| Craft Castle Sun Rain | com.sun.realm.craft.lucky.dragon.block | 50K+ |
| Craft Game Earth World | com.block.craft.vip.sun.game.box | 50K+ |
| Craft Lucky Castle Builder | com.rain.crazy.lucky.pro.block.craft | 50K+ |
| Craftsman: Building City 2022 | com.JavaKidz.attacksnake | 50K+ |
| Craft Rainbow Pro Rain | com.skyland.house.block.craft.crazy.vip | 50K+ |
Google Removed the Malicious App
Following the researchers’ report, Google removed all malicious apps from the Play Store and empowered Play Protect to detect those apps.
Nonetheless, Android users should still scan their devices for any malicious applications running on their devices. Also, it should remain a rule of thumb not to download apps from unknown or untrusted developers, even from the Play Store.
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