Have you noticed a decrease in reports of malicious apps affecting Android devices recently? While that may seem like good news, it doesn’t mean the Google Play Store is entirely free of security threats. A new widespread issue called Proxylib has been uncovered, impacting millions of Android users worldwide by turning their phones into proxy nodes for fraudulent online activities.

The Proxylib malware operation was monitored and documented by Human’s Satori Threat Intelligence researchers over a nine-month period in 2023 and early 2024. Although this may sound alarming, rest assured that you cannot be prosecuted for any illegal activities carried out using your phone after installing one of the 28 infected apps.

Google has taken swift action by removing all dangerous apps from the Play Store and disabling them on devices with Google Play Protect enabled. However, it’s essential to delete these apps from your phone if you have Play Protect turned off or if the tool fails to do its job.

Here are some of the apps affected by Proxylib that you should delete immediately:

– Lite VPN
– Anims Keyboard
– Blaze Stride
– Byte Blade VPN
– Android 12 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
– And more…

Many of these apps offer free VPN services, which may have lured users into unknowingly participating in cybercrimes orchestrated by bad actors. To ensure your online security, it’s advisable to invest in a reliable VPN app rather than resorting to free alternatives with questionable backgrounds.

Proxylib enabled hackers to conduct advertising fraud and other malicious activities using users’ devices as proxy nodes. While the full extent of the cybercrimes remains unknown, it’s essential to prioritize online safety by choosing reputable apps that prioritize user privacy and security.