By Jason Knowles
Publication Date: 2026-01-21 00:07:00
CHICAGO (WLS) — The I-Team has an alert about apps that could drain battery or put personal information at risk.
A new cybersecurity study found some apps were generating fake ad views and slowing down phones.
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An app can look like an innocent emoji maker, QR scanner or storage cleaner.
But cybersecurity researchers say a recent discovery about some apps is a reminder to all smartphone users to think before they download
Cybersecurity company Check Point says it found 15 suspicious apps on Google Play that looked legitimate. The apps would generate phony ad views within the app to make money, but no one would ever really see those ads.
“Hidden adware that was disguised as very simple utility apps, specifically on the Android mobile operating system: make your own emoji apps, free up storage,” said Tony Sabaj, with Check Point.
Check Point says those apps racked up millions of downloads, mostly to people in parts of Asia. But experts…
