Play Store: Google blocks spam apps
Google is kicking apps out of the Play Store that have a "limited scope". This primarily refers to spam applications that nobody needs.
In future, apps in the Play Store must fulfill a minimum level of functionality.
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Google wants to kick apps with a "limited scope" out of the Play Store. This mainly concerns spam apps that have hardly any content or function, but clutter up the search results. From August 31, such applications will no longer be allowed to be offered in the Play Store.
Google announced this on its support website. "Apps that crash, lack the basic level of appropriate usefulness as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is inconsistent with a functional and engaging user experience will not be allowed on Google Play," it says.
Apps without function are kicked out
Google also gives some specific examples: apps that simply display static text or PDF documents will no longer be permitted. Apps with "very little content" - Google cites apps with a single wallpaper as an example - will also no longer be permitted in the future. Apps that have no function at all will also be removed.
It is not clear how many apps will actually be affected by the new regulation and how consistently Google intends to take action against such applications. In 2023, Google is said to have prevented the publication of over 2 million apps, the company writes on a blog post. However, it is not clear how many were subsequently deleted.
Google is constantly revising the guidelines of its app store in order to remove deceptive or fraudulent apps from its Play Store. Nevertheless, applications infected with malware slip through again and again: The IT security experts at ZScaler ThreatLabz recently discovered and analyzed more than 90 malicious apps in the Google Play Store. In total, the malware-infected apps amounted to more than 5.5 million installations.
(dahe)
