Over 50 Apps in Google Play Infected Millions of Users with Adware

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More than 50 apps found in the Google Play Store have exposed some 55 million Android users to adware in what seems to be the billionth time this has happened.

According to security researchers from Sophos, the Android XavirAd was detected on plenty of apps in the Play Store. The adware displays annoying ads to users who had their devices infected and collects personal information that gets sent to a remote server. So far, it is believed up to 55 million users have been infected.

Some of those over 50 Google Play apps that have been discovered carrying the adware have more than one million downloads. Overall, the number rises to some 55 million downloads. One of those ads is Add Text on a Photo, which is extremely popular.

Due to the adware, users will have a full-screen ad popping up at regular intervals, even if the infected app is closed. These ads will direct you to install other apps.

The Play Store is full of complaints regarding these apps as users noticed and reported the sketchy behavior.