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Tech News Google apps banned! 3 malicious Android apps booted from Play Store; Delete now
After a massive crackdown on dangerous apps that saw Google slap a ban on as many as 150 apps recently, the company has now banned more apps from Google Play Store in order to protect users who download apps like these from its store. At Google I/O this year, the company had revealed that there were 3 billion active Android devices today and the removal of these apps will benefit users who might have been tricked into using them.
These three apps that were banned from Google Play Store were using shady tactics to fool users into parting with their personal information and their money. Security firm Kaspersky spotted these applications and stated that the Facebook Login mechanism was used to trick users into parting with their information.
Also read: Looking for a smartphone? Check Mobile Finder here.
The ‘Login with Facebook' button on several web services and apps is used to quickly authenticate users and allow them to use a service without having to create another username and password, and it is used by popular services like Spotify and Tinder. However, according to the security firm, these apps were using sign-in data to steal login credentials and access users personal information.
Google banned apps list
The names of the banned apps are "Magic Photo Lab - Photo Editor”, "Blender Photo Editor-Easy Photo Background Editor", and "Pix Photo Motion Edit 2021". These apps have been banned from the Play Store.
How to stay safe from these apps banned by Google
Users who have downloaded these apps will have to remove them manually from their phones, and should ideally change their Facebook login details as well.
Users can stick to well-known photo editing apps and now download any shady app, in order to keep their data safe and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. While downloading, be very wary and check the language on the Google Play Store regarding the app and see if there are grammatical and factual errors. Try and verify credentials as far as possible of all apps that you download. Remember, they may look legitimate, but they may not be so at all. The onus is on the user.
I'm deeply familiar with mobile security, app ecosystems, and online privacy. The recent Google crackdown on malicious Android apps is a critical move to safeguard the 3 billion active Android users. Specifically, the three banned apps - "Magic Photo Lab - Photo Editor", "Blender Photo Editor-Easy Photo Background Editor", and "Pix Photo Motion Edit 2021" - were flagged for deceptive practices.
Kaspersky, a respected security firm, identified these apps using the Facebook Login mechanism to deceive users into divulging personal information. This manipulation of the 'Login with Facebook' feature, commonly seen in services like Spotify and Tinder, was exploited to pilfer login credentials and sensitive user data. Such deceptive tactics jeopardize user privacy and security.
Removing these banned apps manually from your device is imperative. Additionally, changing your Facebook login details is advised for those who've fallen prey to these applications. To prevent such incidents, sticking to reputable photo editing apps, scrutinizing app descriptions for errors, and verifying an app's credentials before downloading are proactive measures users should adopt.
This incident underscores the responsibility users have in ensuring their digital safety. While Google acts to cleanse its Play Store, individual vigilance remains pivotal to thwarting potential threats.
