Urgent Android alert as 12 popular apps are banned by Google - check your phone now

If you use an Android phone it's worth checking it now to make sure one of 12 apps are not installed.

There's yet another Android warning that's just been issued and you'd be wise to check your phone without delay if you don't want cyber crooks gaining access to your data. This latest alert has been issued by the security experts at McAfee who discovered a bug called Xamalicious that is capable of granting itself permissions and performing tasks remotely such as screen navigations. This allows thieves to take full control of infected devices and perform any type of activity like adding spyware or money-stealing banking trojans without user interaction. It can even hide on-screen elements meaning the owner can't see phone-slowing adware being installed.

A total of 25 apps were found to contain this vicious virus with 13 readily available to download via Google's official Play Store. Although the US firm has now banned all of the offending applications it's thought over 300,000 people downloaded them before they were blocked.

According to McAfee most of the installations took place in the UK, USA, Brazil, Spain and Germany. That's why it's vital you now check your device and take action if you think you downloaded any of the apps listed below.

• Essential Horoscope for Android - 100,000 downloads

• 3D Skin Editor for PE Minecraft - 100,000 downloads

• Logo Maker Pro - 100,000 downloads

• Auto Click Repeater - 10,000 downloads

• Count Easy Calorie Calculator - 10,000 downloads

• Sound Volume Extender - 5,000 downloads

• LetterLink - 1,000 downloads

• NUMEROLOGY: PERSONAL HOROSCOPE &NUMBER PREDICTIONS - 1,000 downloads

• Step Keeper: Easy Pedometer - 500 downloads

• Track Your Sleep - 500 downloads

• Sound Volume Booster - 100 downloads

• Astrological Navigator: Daily Horoscope & Tarot - 100 downloads

• Universal Calculator - 100 downloads

If you think you may have installed these on your device it's vital you remove them without delay and then run an anti-virus check on your phone.

MacAfee is also advising users to avoid using apps that require accessibility services unless there is a genuine need for use. If a new app tries to convince you to activate accessibility services claiming that it’s required without a real and reasonable reason and requesting to ignore the operative system warning, then it’s a red flag.

Because it is difficult for users to actively deal with all these threats, McAfee also says that users should consider installing security software on their devices and always keep up to date.