MILLIONS of Android users are being warned to delete an app that could be draining their bank accounts. The app is called SnapTube and claimed to easily allow users to download videos from YouTube and Facebook. According to a report from UpStreamSystems, the 40 million people who have downloaded the app could end up paying a high […]
MILLIONS of Android users are being warned to delete an app that could be draining their bank accounts.
The app is called SnapTube and claimed to easily allow users to download videos from YouTube and Facebook.
According to a report from UpStreamSystems, the 40 million people who have downloaded the app could end up paying a high price.
The app was free to download but a team of tech researchers claim it can quietly sign up users for premium paid services without them realising.
This is labelled as a ‘fleeceware’ scam because the app is not technically malware but it can fleece you out of money.
Android scams like this rely on the fact the Google Play Store can allow apps to take regular payments from the credit or debit card linked to the account.
This is useful when you’re paying for apps like Netflix but not so good when you have no idea you’ve downloaded fleeceware.
The SnapTube app comes with a free trial period so users might have forgotten all about it by the time it starts charging.
Android users are usually able to cancel trials like this before the subscription starts or simply uninstall it.
However, some people download apps like this to use once or twice and then completely forget they even have them on their device.
SnapTube has been accused of making around $100 million (£78 million) from scamming unsuspecting users.
Mobiuspace, the developer behind the app, has been confronted but said it was unaware of the issue.
It claimed that any unwanted charge problems would be due to a third-party app that SnapTube communicates with.
However, Google has now removed SnapTube from the PlayStore.
If you’ve downloaded SnapTube or aren’t sure if you have make sure you go to the Google Play Store and head to the Subscriptions option under the menu button.
Here you’ll be able to cancel any subscriptions you’re not happy with.
Here's some tips you can follow
Check your app permissions – When you install an app, check over the permissions it asks for. Does this app need to know your location? If it doesn’t, maybe consider denying that permission – or avoiding the app altogether.
Update your apps regularly – Developers regularly update their apps to fix security bugs that can be exploited by hackers. So an easy way to stay safe is to regularly update the apps on your phone – and update your phone’s software too.
Use HaveIBeenPwned.com – This website keeps a hidden log of all major log-in leaks from hack attacks. You can enter your email address on the site and find out if you’ve been hacked – or sign up for email alerts that do the same thing. If you’re hacked, change your password – simple!
Download reputable apps – Always be careful of the apps you’re downloading, even from the official Google Play Store. Research them and make sure they’re from reputable developers, with lots of positive reviews. That way, you can avoid downloading a scam app.
Don’t sideload apps – Sometimes it may be tempting to download an app from outside the Google Play Store. This is called “side loading” and can be very dangerous – so generally don’t do it, unless you’re 100% sure the app is safe. Apps outside of the Play Store aren’t vetted by Google, so it’s your own fault if you end up installing criminal apps that spy on you or raid your bank.
In other news, Samsung appears to have inadvertently confirmed bean-shaped earbuds.
Android users are being warned not to download a specific phone background as it could crash their device.
And, Apple’s next AirPods could track your heart rate – using light sensors in your ears.
Have you spotted any bad apps recently? Let us know in the comments…
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