Google’s Play Store offers millions of applications, games, books and more to scores of Android smartphone users across the globe. It is considered to be the safest way for Android users to discover and download apps. While the Play Store holds many new and important applications, it also is flooded with faulty, shady and harmful applications. And now, it has been reported that Google is banning a popular Chinese developer from its Play Store and is also removing dozens of applications made by the developer.
A report has surfaced on Buzzfeed which that the developer was committing ad frauds and was misusing the user permissions after being installed on the device. It was also discovered by the security researchers that the Chinese developer was committing a fraud which was later banned by Google. Dubbed DO Global, the developer is partly owned by Baidu and was found guilty of producing fake ad clicks to generate revenue. This is not the first application or developer to do so as there are many similar applications who use this practise.
Although Google itself didn’t officially confirm its banning of DO Global but according to the Buzzfeed report, the news holds accuracy. Moreover, the security researchers found at least 6 applications which kept running in the background even when the user closed the application. Earlier, DO Global had around 100 applications on the Google Play Store, but now 46 of them have been banned. Most of the applications were listed under other developer names as well such as ‘Pic Tools Group’.
In a statement given to the Verge, Google said, “We take our responsibility to protect users and advertisers seriously, and invest in tools and resources to fight fraud and abuse globally. We actively investigate malicious behavior, and when we find violations, we take action, including the removal of a developer’s ability to monetize their app with AdMob or publish on Play.”
While Check Point, in its research wrote, “In a world where ad revenue can produce a very high income, it’s not surprising why malicious actors are after fraudulent activities against ad agencies. ‘Follow the money’ is a good rule of thumb while investigating a malicious campaign.”
Earlier, Google had to remove more than 60 games from its Play Store after Check Point’s report that they contained malicious bugs and displayed porn ads. And most of these games were aimed at children which makes them even more harmful and wrong. With the rise of smartphones and internet, to stop such practises the technology companies need to improve their rules and regulations.
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