The Google Play Store has upgraded its effort to eliminate malicious and malware-infested applications in the past few years. However, some of these apps are still able to penetrate Google's strict screening processes.

Recently, cyber security company TrendLabs reported that at least 400 apps hosted on the Google Play Store contain malicious codes that might put a user in danger.

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TrendLabs had a very specific preference when the firm audited the Google Play Store. According to Android Headlines, TrendLabs was specifically looking for what the firm refers to as DressCode malware. As the same suggests, DressCode malware looks quite harmless on the outside. Deep inside them, though, are malicious codes that, when triggered, can cause irreparable damage not only the device but the user as well.

TrendLabs added that once these malicious codes are triggered, they can spy on a user's activities by forwarding data to the controller.

The report revealed that the company was particularly interested in a malicious app disguised as a "Grand Theft Auto V" mod for "Minecraft: Pocket Edition," which has been downloaded for at least 500,000 times.

TrendLabs and other security analysts agree that the extremely high download rate of the malicious app was due to its clever workaround on one of the most popular video game titles.

It can be noted that this is not the first time that authorized Google Play Store apps have been audited and found out to be infected with malware.

Earlier this year, a separate audit found out that at least 350 apps were infected by malware. TrendLabs said that the issue is not at all limited to the Android App Store as previous audits have pointed out that more than 3,000 malicious apps are also being hosted on various online downloading sites.

TagsGoogle, Google Apps, App Store, google app store, google malware, Android, Android malware