New Malware Targets Android Devices, Stays Even After Reset: Are You Safe?

It’s something most Android users have heard for years: stick to the official play store, avoid shady downloads and you’ll be safe. But a new discovery is shaking that long-standing belief. Even apps listed on the official marketplace are not always as harmless as they seem. A recent report by Bleeping Computer, citing findings from cybersecurity firm McAfee, has revealed a worrying case where malicious software managed to slip into more than 50 apps on the Google Play Store. Together, these apps were downloaded over 2.3 million times, making the threat far from small or isolated.What Is ‘NoVoice’ Malware?According to McAfee researchers, the malware, now identified as “NoVoice,” was cleverly hidden inside everyday apps like system cleaners,

casual games and photo gallery tools. Nothing about these apps looked suspicious on the surface and they worked just as advertised, which made them harder to detect. What makes this malware particularly tricky is how quietly it operates. It doesn’t immediately ask for alarming permissions, which is usually a red flag for users. Instead, it blends in, doing its job in the background without drawing attention.How Dangerous Is It?Once inside a device, NoVoice reportedly attempts to exploit system vulnerabilities to gain deeper access. If successful, it can dig into sensitive areas of the phone. This includes accessing login credentials for financial apps, browsing through personal photos and even interfering with installed applications. In some cases, the malware embeds itself so deeply into the system that even a factory reset may not completely remove it. That’s something most users rely on as a last-resort fix, which makes this situation even more concerning.Who Is At Risk?The report suggests that devices running older Android versions are the most vulnerable. Smartphones that haven’t received updates since May 2021 are particularly exposed. This explains why users in regions where older or budget devices are still widely used, including parts of Africa and some users in India, the US and Europe, have been affected.Google has reportedly taken action by removing the identified malicious apps from the Play Store. At the same time, the US-based tech giant continues to stress the importance of keeping devices updated with the latest security patches.