Google Removes 46 Apps by Chinese language Developer iHandy From the Play Retailer
Google appears to be extra actively policing the Android Play Retailer of late, and has booted off common apps for shady practices seemingly each week. A brand new report by Buzzfeed Information suggests the corporate is constant its spree with yet one more large takedown.
Google has abruptly pulled a staggering 46 apps from a single China-based developer referred to as iHandy. Google has but to share an evidence behind the removing. Subsequently, it’s unclear whether or not the apps, which collectively have tens of hundreds of thousands of downloads, have been discovered to be concerned in any malicious actions.
A Google spokesperson instructed BuzzFeed that the investigation is ongoing and confirmed iHandy apps have been additionally banned from the search engine large’s advert community.
We’ve reached out to each Google and iHandy for added particulars and can replace this story if we hear again.
Comparable to a couple earlier circumstances, iHandy’s vary of apps too supply generic options akin to virus safety, selfie filters, digital keyboards, horoscopes, and extra. Certainly one of them titled “Candy Digital camera – Selfie Magnificence Digital camera, Filters” has been downloaded greater than 50 million occasions. Curiously, eight different iHandy apps are nonetheless out there on the Play Retailer.
iHandy’s vice chairman, Simon Zhu, assured BuzzFedd that the corporate is “prepared to comply with these [Play Store policies] enhancements as a developer in good standing.”
“It’s an surprising motion from our viewpoint. We’re looking for out the explanations. Hope the apps will probably be again to Play Retailer as quickly as doable. As everyone knows that in recent times, Google retains enhancing insurance policies and processes to construct a more healthy ecosystem for customers and builders,” he added.
In a submitting on the Shenzhen Inventory Change, iHandy revealed it has about 180 million month-to-month lively customers. The doc additionally listed Google as its largest buyer final 12 months, hinting the cell advert community is liable for a major chunk of iHandy’s income.
Within the final couple of years, Google has positioned Play Retailer safety on the forefront of its efforts, with a collection of extra stringent insurance policies. Nevertheless, it looks like there’s nonetheless various room for enchancment as rogue apps proceed to evade these guidelines and run free.
Earlier this week, Google eliminated a handful of adware apps with over 1.5 million downloads. Broadly adopted document-scanning, CamScanner app was additionally found with malicious code which was able to executing and downloading extra malware recordsdata by itself within the background.
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