In a recent sweep for better app security, Google has removed 12 apps from its Play Store due to aggressive data privacy infringements, affecting millions of users worldwide. These apps, once a staple on many devices, are now flagged as hazardous, urging users to uninstall them promptly.
Key Highlights:
- 12 popular apps removed from Google Play Store
- Apps flagged for aggressive data privacy issues
- Users urged to delete the flagged apps immediately
- Cybersecurity team Dr.Web discovers the violations
- Some apps had over 5 million downloads globally
The banned apps were discovered by the cybersecurity team at Dr.Web, which flagged them for issues that breached Google’s data privacy policies. Some of these apps were downloaded over 5 million times by Android users across the globe, showcasing the extensive reach and potential risk posed by these applications.
The list of flagged apps includes titles such as “Super Skibydi Killer” with 1 million downloads and “Agent Shooter” with 500,000 downloads, among others, revealing a wide user base that might have been exposed to data privacy infringements.
Not just a one-off, this action reflects Google’s ongoing effort to curb data privacy violations and ensure a safer user environment in its ecosystem. This incident underscores the importance of stringent app security measures to mitigate risks associated with data privacy.
The flagged apps were found to have codes written for harvesting data from users, which is a clear violation of Google’s app policies. This included several Muslim prayer apps with a cumulative download count of over 10 million, a highway-speed-trap detection app, a QR code reader, among others.
These apps, if not compliant with Google’s Developer Content Policy, face a ban from the Play Store, pushing developers to adhere to stricter data privacy norms.
Google has taken down 12 apps from its Play Store due to aggressive data privacy violations, as discovered by cybersecurity experts at Dr.Web. These apps, with millions of downloads globally, are now flagged for removal by all users. This action demonstrates Google’s continued efforts in maintaining a secure and privacy-compliant app ecosystem.
