Although smartphone security is often overlooked, there are more and more malware threats emerging every day, and most of them are actually hidden in apps that you can download on the Google Play Store.

I want to warn all Android OS users that an application has emerged that installs very dangerous malware on smartphones, it is called xHelper, and according to all reports, it is almost impossible to remove it from an infected phone. What xHelper is doing at the moment is very aggressive ad serving, not only via a mobile browser (mostly in redirecting to unwanted sites) but also on the main screen of your smartphone.

Some users report that this app is also installed some other apps without the owner’s permission, and it is impossible to remove it even with factory/hard reset. The reason for that is that this app manages to isolate its files from the main OS, and that regardless of deletion/uninstall always finds a way to reinstall itself. There are few reports of successful removal with some tools, but xHelper adjusts very quickly and disables all possible security programs.

I personally had the opportunity to try to repair an infected smartphone with this trojan, and despite all the methods known to me, removal was unsuccessful in all cases.

To reduce the possibility of infection, check each app before downloading from Google Play (by search for rewiew), and never download apps from any other location. It is also important to keep your smartphone up to date with security updates, and that you use any security software that can prevent such bad apps to install on your device.

Read more :

45,000 Android devices infected by new unremovable xHelper malware
A nearly impossible to remove Android malware has infected 45,000 devices
Symantec - xHelper