Mobile apps are the most sought after by the Gen Next for their smart phones. Moreover, with it come various mobile ads, sometimes useful and mostly turn out as pains. A recent study has revealed alarming issues that certain mobile ads could download a specific malware that would alter the settings of the mobile and upload personal data stored by the user. Well the intentions of the mobile ad companies are, to make a fast buck trading your personal data. The discrepancies, as such in a very minor proportion but could be hazardous if entertained. It is practically impossible for the user to define how to identify malware while various ads start popping up frequently..

As per the study revealed early this week, 19,200 of the 384,000 apps it tested used malicious ad networks. In addition, as per estimates, such apps have been downloaded nearly 80 million times by unaware mobile users. The survey conducted by Lookout, a San Francisco based mobile security company stated that nearly 5% of free mobile apps use an "aggressive" ad network to make money.

As per the study, smart phones are running ads from rogue advertising networks that disguise ads as text message notifications or app icons. These when downloaded could change browser settings and bookmarks. And inturn upload your contacts list to the ad network's servers. These ad networks can sell these bits of information to marketers. Therefore, the next time you download an apps check its origin, ascertain and then click the `select’ button. (With inputs from internet- AW AarKay)