Beware! Hoax 'battery saver' app steals your location, phone numbers and texts

An app that promises to help you save battery may sound helpful – but one such Android app on the Google Play Store has a dangerous side.

The hoax app, called ‘Advanced Battery Saver’ can steal your personal details, including location, phone numbers, and texts.

And worryingly, the stolen information could be used by hackers to access your payment details, according to RiskIQ, who first spotted the hoax app.

The hoax begins with a pop-up alert on your Android phone, warning that ‘cleanup may be required’ to prevent battery slowing.

The pop up encourages users to install the Advanced Battery Saver app, with a link to the app in the Google Play Store.

While the app does work to save your battery, it also gains access to your private data in the process.

The app also quietly runs an ad-clicker in the background of your device.

In a blog about the app, RiskIQ said:

“While it may seem benign, the ad-clicker also steals information from the phone, including IMEI, phone numbers, phone type/brand/model, location, and more.”

So far, the app has been downloaded by over 60,000 users – if you’re one of them, we would recommend deleting it immediately, and installing an anti-malware programme.

Thankfully, it appears that Google has now removed the app from the Google Play Store.