Apple said the WeChat messaging app and DiDi Taxi were among the 25 most popular apps found to be infected with malicious software. Other impacted apps include Baidu's Baidu Music app, the 58 Classified-Job, Used Cars, Rent, and a music app from Internet portal NetEase Inc.

Several cyber security firms reported a malicious program, dubbed XcodeGhost, that had been embedded in hundreds, possibly thousands, of apps. Hackers used a counterfeit version of Xcode "toolkit", Apple's app-building software.

Apple had previously not disclosed which apps had been affected, although many had been identified by other companies.

The company said it was working with developers to get the apps back on the App Store and was blocking new apps that contained the malware.