Quickheal has detected eight apps on the Play Store affected by joker malware with a total download count of 50,000. Google has been informed and the apps have been removed from the Playstore. Joker interacts with ads to steal users’ information. Once access is granted, it subscribes the user to paid premium services, causing a loss of money without the knowledge of the user. It downloads two payloads that infect the device and steal personal information.
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Google is finally working on the privacy of data for its users. On Thursday, the tech giants released a statement seeking details of the data collected by developers on the Play Store and also how it was being used. The third quarter of this year shall see the new privacy policies being rolled out and by Q4 the developers, including Google itself, compiling with them. Google wants to ensure that Google Play is a safe space for android app users.
Google is set to close its dedicated Google Wifi app on app stores and adding that functionality into the Google Home app for better control and management of connected products in one place. The switchover to the app will happen in two phases — in the first phase, the Google wifi app will be disabled of most of the functionality on May 25. Then, the Wifi app will be removed from the Play and iOS App Store.
RBI is seeking help from Google, Digital Lenders Association, fintech association and few other non-banking lenders to regulate digital lenders in the country, media reports said. The central bank has sought details from the search engine giant on parameters for onboarding fintech loan apps on its play store. It has asked for full detail of Google’s review exercise in January when it removed over 400 such apps, allegedly violating its policy.
Play store added a section having all information one needs about the different subscriptions that Google offers at one place. XDA Developers, in a report, claimed that the navigation bar of the Play Store features the subscription page link. Once the user clicks on the Subscription landing page, they will get all the details and updates about its offerings including YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, Stadia Pro, Google One, and Google Fi.
A group of local entrepreneurs including Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma have formed a coalition, opposing Google’s Play Store billing policies. Amidst these sentiments, Indus App Bazaar – an app store made by Mumbai-based Indus OS – reported increased traction in both users and developer base in the past week. “We have seen an increase of 40-50% in the number of developer signups in the last 2 weeks”, said Indus OS co-founder Rakesh Deshmukh.
Google is being pushed to soften its stance in India as startup founders seek alternatives to list their apps, either through APK downloads or other app stores. While Google has deferred the deadline to integrate its billing system into the apps, it has not spoken anything regarding the 30% commission it said it’ll be charging. The tech giant is meeting various startup founders to “understand their concerns more deeply” while also answering developers’ queries.
Google is hiring to create a new cybersecurity team to find bugs and vulnerabilities in “highly sensitive” Android apps on Google Play. Sensitive apps include contact tracing, elections etc. The team is said to complete the work that is currently being done by independent security researchers through Google Play Security Reward Program (GPSRP). It will also work with other Android security teams to find new and creative ways to reduce vulnerability occurrence.
Google is deferring the enforcement of its new Play Store billing policy in India (only) to April 22, earlier going live on Sept 21. This news comes at a time when Indian startups including Paytm, Razorpay, Dream11, ShareChat raised concerns over the 30% Play Store commission on payments. More than 50 Indian executives held a meeting with MeitY on Saturday. Google said it is setting up listening sessions with Indian startups to understand their concerns deeply.