Newly discovered adware digs its claws deep into Android, is nearly impossible to remove

Security researchers have uncovered a new style of Android malware that hides inside of apps that act and look like they’re legitimate services.

Lookout Security described the unsavory practice as “trojanized adware.” Essentially the third-party apps look and function like Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and other popular apps. But once they’re installed, they assign themselves system-level permission and serve up ads throughout the rest of the OS, generating money for the hacker. 

It’s a new level of evil genius because the security firm says they’re nearly impossible to uninstall: the best option for those who fall victim is to just ditch out on the device and pick up a new one. The trojanized apps obtain root-level access and install themselves as system apps, so even a factory reset doesn’t get rid of them.

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