From Google to Samsung, Android smartphones are some of the most popular handheld devices around the world.

But if you use an Android smartphone, you may want to reconsider which apps you have installed on your device.

Researchers from WhiteOps have warned about 38 dangerous beauty apps that can bombard your smartphone with ads.

The team, led by Nico Agnese, explained: “What these apps all have in common - besides their fraudulent tactics - is their focus on beauty.

“Most purport to be selfie apps that add beauty filters to users’ pictures, while at the same time showing ads out of context and making it nearly impossible to remove the apps themselves.”

The apps were found to commit three types of fraud - out-of-context ads, out-of-context navigation, and removal of app icon, making it harder for users to uninstall the apps.

The researchers said: “If you look at the evolution of this specific group of apps, you can imagine some strategies the fraud actor may have used, as well as their reactions when apps were removed from the Play Store.

“The timeline of this operation offers a great case study of fraud development, publishing, adaptation, and pulling back resources to reserve them for potential future use.”

Thankfully, all 38 apps have now been removed from the Google Play Store.

But if you still have any of them installed on your Android smartphone, we would recommend removing them immediately.

The 38 dangerous apps

Yoroko Camera

Solu Camera

Lite Beauty Camera

Beauty Collage Lite

Beauty & Filters Camera

Photo Collage & Beauty Camera

Beauty Camera Selfie Filter

Gaty Beauty Camera

Pand Selife Beauty Camera

Catoon Photo Editor & Selfie Beauty Camera

Benbu Selife Beauty Camera

Pinut Selife Beauty Camera & Photo Editor

Mood Photo Editor & Selife Beauty Camera

Rose Photo Editor & Selfie Beauty Camera

Selife Beauty Camera & Photo Editor

Fog Selife Beauty Camera

First Selife Beauty Camera & Photo Editor

Vanu Selife Beauty Camera

Sun Pro Beauty Camera

Funny Sweet Beauty Camera

Little Bee Beauty Camera

Beauty Camera & Photo Editor Pro

Grass Beauty Camera

Ele Beauty Camera

Flower Beauty Camera

Best Selfie Beauty Camera

Orange Camera

Sunny Beauty Camera

Landy Selfie Beauty Camera

Nut Selfie Camera

Rose Photo Editor & Selfie Beauty Camera

Art Beauty Camera-2019

Elegant Beauty Cam-2019

Selfie Beauty Camera & Funny Filters

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