Google Play store: 12 popular Android apps banned with millions urged to immediately delete

Android owners are being urged to delete a list of popular apps after they were removed from the Google Play store.

Millions of people have downloaded the dangerous apps, which have presented themselves as fitness, gaming or questionnaire apps. The apps trick users to click on fake links to visit dodgy sites or get them to download the app under the promise of fake rewards.

Some of the banned apps include ones that promised users rewards and points for walking and exercising, however, when people tried to cash out the points they were blocked or had to watch endless adverts.

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As reported by the Express, cybersecurity experts at Dr Web flagged these apps, some of which already had millions of downloads.

The apps that have recently been flagged by the IT cybersecurity firm are:

• Lucky Step: Walking Tracker - 10 million downloads
• Walking Joy: Walking tracker - 5 million downloads
• Lucky Habit: Health tracker - 5 million downloads

Despite being flagged, Lucky Habit has not been removed from the app store at this time.

It comes after 10 more apps were also axed from the Google store, due to bad links that downloaded malware or directed users to dodgy websites.