• Google says it blocked 1.75m apps and 80,000 bad developer accounts in 2025
• Play Protect scanned 350bn apps daily, flagging 27m malicious apps outside Play Store
• GenAI models boosted app review process, finding complex malicious patterns faster

Google has revealed it rejected 1.75 million apps from the Play Store for violating its policies in 2025, as well as banning more than 80,000 “bad developer accounts” whichsought to publish harmful apps, and blocked 255,000 apps from gaining access to sensitive user data.

In its annual review of Android and Google Play security, the company said initiatives like developer verification, mandatory pre-review checks, and testing requirements “significantly reduced” the paths for bad actors to enter, and have “raised the bar” for the Google Play ecosystem.

Throughout 2025, Google Play ran more than 10,000 safety checks on every app that was published, and these safety checks continue even after the apps get published.

Blocking spam ratings and reviews

Going with the trends, Google also said it integrated the latest Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) models into its review process, but kept humans onboard, who can now find complex malicious patterns faster.

“Our commitment to privacy-forward app development, supported by tools like Play Policy Insights in Android Studio and Data safety section, has empowered developers to continue to minimize privacy-sensitive permission requests, and prioritize the user in their design choices,” Google said.

The company also worked on blocking spam ratings and reviews, and its anti-spam protections blocked 160 million spam ratings and reviews last year (including inflated and deflated reviews). Average 0.5-star rating drops for apps targeted by review bombing were also prevented.

Finally, Google said Play Protect, its built-in Android anti-malware solution, now scans more than 350 billion Android apps every day. In 2025, the tool identified more than 27 million new malicious apps from outside the Google Play ecosystem, and warned users about them.

Looking ahead, Google said it will continue investing in AI-driven defenses, and will roll out Android developer verifications to “hold bad actors accountable” and prevent them from hiding behind anonymity.

• Google has dished out awards for the 10 best Android apps of the year
• Popular apps and little-known newcomers alike were honored
• The choices were judged in a range of different categories

As 2025 draws to a close (yes, really) Google has begun handing out awards for the best Android apps available on its Google Play Store. The gongs honor the best efforts from developers around the globe and highlight the top experiences you can get on some of the best Android phones.

Here, we’ve run through every app that was honored by Google, complete with the categories each winner was awarded a prize in. If you’ve been looking for something new to try on your Android device, this is a great place to start.

1. Best overall app: Focus Friend by Hank Green

Is distraction a way of life for you, with concentration remaining frustratingly out of reach? If so, try Focus Friend by Hank Green. This handy app has a variety of ways to help keep you on track, and Google describes it as one that “helped us all to disconnect in order to reconnect.”

As well as the award for Best Overall App, it also won in the Best for Personal Growth category, making it a double victory for the app’s creator.

2. Best multi-device app: Luminar: Photo Editor

Who needs a computer to perfect your photos? Android phones are more than powerful enough to handle your image-editing needs these days, and one app that helps make that a reality is Luminar: Photo Editor.

With pro-level tools, artificial intelligence (AI) smarts and an intuitive interface, it makes light work of anything you throw at it.

3. Best for fun: Edits, an Instagram app

Getting your videos ready for social media is an easy task with Edits, which promises to give you everything you need to produce share-worthy clips right on your phone.

It’s free to get started, too, and with over 10 million downloads and an average review score of 4.5 stars, it’s clearly a well-loved option for Instagram aficionados.

4. Best Everyday Essential: Wiser - 15 Minute Audio Books

What do you want to listen to today? With Wiser, there’s a world of audiobooks available to you, with everything from much-loved classics to newly released titles.

If you’re not sure where to start, Wiser provides 15-minute summaries that break down all the key themes in a book, while its personalization algorithm ensures there’s always something close at hand that piques your interest.

5. Best Hidden Gem: Pingo AI Language Learning

AI has a wide range of uses when it comes to Android apps, and that’s aptly demonstrated by Pingo.

This app integrates AI into the world of language learning, enabling you to chat with an AI bot that responds to your input and tailors the conversation to your pace and skill level. The result is an app that learns with you while guiding you towards confidence and fluency.

6. Best for Families: ABCmouse 2: Kids Learning Game

Want to help your child learn outside the classroom? ABCmouse could be just what you’re looking for.

Its collection of free games, books, videos and songs are all carefully curated for children aged 2-8, helping them explore topics including math, science, art, music and more. It’s loved by parents and kids alike, making learning fun for everyone involved.

7. Best for Watches: SleepisolBio: sleep, alarm

Getting a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for all aspects of life, yet so many of us struggle to ensure we sleep soundly on a regular basis. SleepisolBio is designed to put that right, and it does that through a combination of AI analysis and audio therapy that can help you relax and drift off at the end of the day.

Put it to good use on your smartwatch and you might be able to put your sleep struggles behind you once and for all.

8. Best for Large Screens: Goodnotes: Notes, docs, PDF

Goodnotes has been a well-regarded app for years, so it’s no surprise to see it honored by Google. Whether you’re taking notes, organizing your documents or looking to boost your productivity, it’s a superb option.

That’s doubly so on a large display, where its well-made interface and powerful tools really come into their own. From students to professionals, it’s cherished by a wide variety of people.

9. Best for Cars: SoundCloud

SoundCloud is a great place to discover new tunes, with communities of music lovers listening, interacting and spreading the word.

When it comes to Android Auto, SoundCloud is a real winner, with a clear interface and easy controls that ensure your focus stays on the road while you enjoy your favorite tracks. Its rival apps could learn a thing or two.

10. Best for XR Headsets: Calm - Sleep, Meditate, Relax

Mixed-reality headsets have been big news in recent years, and if you’ve taken the plunge into the world of virtual reality and augmented reality, there are plenty of excellent Android apps at your disposal.

Google’s pick of the bunch is Calm, and it takes advantage of the immersive nature of XR devices to envelop you in a stress-busting environment that could help you focus, sleep and relax like never before.

• Google and Epic Games have just settled their long-running legal dispute
• The settlement sees Google make major Play Store concessions
• That could bring sweeping changes to the Android ecosystem

Google and Epic Games have been locked in a legal tussle over the future of the Google Play Store for years. But with the dispute largely going Epic’s way of late, the two companies have decided to reach a settlement – and it could change the entire Android ecosystem forever.

The settlement sees Google make sweeping concessions to Epic, altering its Play Store in radical ways and potentially making it unrecognizable compared to before. In the end, that could be great news for Android fans.

In short, Android developers will no longer be forced to use Google Play Billing when charging users in apps or through external links, and will instead be able to use alternative payment methods. Google will also allow the installation of Registered App Stores – that is, alternative app stores – that will have access to the full catalog of Google Play apps.

Aside from giving users more choice, Google is also lowering the fees it charges developers. The situation is fairly complex, but the long and short of it is that Google can charge 20% for in-app purchases that provide more than a de minimis gameplay advantage (presumably, things like power-ups), or 9% for anything that provides no advantage (like extra levels). Google’s fee is also 9% for subscriptions, non-game app purchases, and up-front payments. And if apps want to use Google Play Billing, Google will charge an additional 5%.

These fees are lower than those developers had been paying previously, which could reach 30%. That raises the possibility that developers might pass those savings on to users. If paying for apps and in-app purchases is about to get cheaper, that’s a win for Android users.

It’s also worth noting that the settlement affects users globally, not just in the United States, and remains valid until June 2032 (a period of 6.5 years). When Google initially lost its case against Epic, the presiding judge ruled that the enforced changes would be valid only in the United States and for a period of just three years.

While there is much nuance in the settlement – the fees charged to developers depend on the date a user installed an app, with the new model only applying to apps freshly installed after October 2025, for example – it’s clear that Google has conceded a lot of ground here. The settlement is now just awaiting approval from the trial judge, which should happen today. With any luck, Google’s concessions will result in a better, more affordable future for Android users.

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Despite having access to some of the best iPhones, I find myself drawn to the best Android phones when it comes time to pick a daily driver.

However, as a Mac and iPad user, I’ll admit that there is still a little friction between Google’s mobile operating system and Apple platforms. While the interplay between the two ecosystems is better than it once was, some absolutely basic tasks are still either inconvenient or straight-up difficult.

One of these is getting files off of an Android phone and onto a Mac computer – it doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to move photos and videos, documents, or audio, getting data between the two systems isn’t exactly easy.

For one thing, Mac computers will often refuse to display a USB-connected Android phone in Finder, which typically takes dragging and dropping files out of the question.

And while AirDrop makes wireless transfer trivial between Apple devices, there’s no in-built equivalent for Android phones. You can use Google Drive or WeTransfer, or even send yourself a message on WhatsApp or social media with the file attached, but you’ll find yourself up against long upload times, file compression, size limits, and incursions into cloud storage budgets.

However, I recently discovered an app that gives Android phones the ability to transfer files to a Mac effortlessly, and all it requires is two free downloads and a stable Wi-Fi connection.

LocalSend is a free and open-source app that allows users to transfer files between devices over a shared Wi-Fi connection, and it’s quickly become one of my most-used apps. All an app like this has to do is work, and this one does so seamlessly.

Once both devices are connected to the same network, you simply choose whether to send or receive files and look for the chosen device’s code name to pop up. You can then select your media, press send, and bosh. Simple cross-platform file transfer complete.

Sure, it's not as quick or convenient as AirDrop, which is still a big benefit to using iPhone, but it's much quicker than using cloud storage to upload and then download your files, as I had to do via Google Drive before finding LocalSend.

LocalSend is available in the Google Play Store and App Store for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and can also be downloaded from its dedicated website – all for free.

I’ve sent dozens of videos and photos from my various Android phones to my MacBook Pro using the app, and all of them have transferred at a good pace (relative to my home WiFi speed). Issues are infrequent and easy to move past, and usually come down to instability in said connection.

There’s not too much more to say about LocalSend, other than I think every Android user should give it a go. If you, like me, are rocking with a hybrid everyday carry, then LocalSend can serve as the magic glue that brings Apple and Android together (at least when it comes to transferring files).

Have you tried LocalSend or apps like it? Let us know in the comments below.

• OpenAI has launched its Sora AI video app on Android
• Sora lets you create AI-generated videos from text prompts
• You can make digital avatars of yourself, your pets, or real-world objects to star in your videos

OpenAI’s new Sora AI video social app is now officially available on Android after a spectacular debut on iOS several weeks ago. Its debut on iOS saw over a million downloads within its first five days on the App Store back in September.

Sora climbed the charts faster than the original ChatGPT mobile app, and could do the same on Google Play.

That debut turned heads not just because of the novelty of AI-generated videos, but also because they went viral so quickly. Now, with Android users able to join in, Sora's potential reach has skyrocketed.

iOS is a sizeable part of the smartphone ecosystem, but Android powers roughly 70% of the world's smartphones. It means the mainstream era of AI videos teased by the likes of Google and Meta has now truly arrived.

As with its iOS counterpart, the Android version of Sora is much more than basic image-to-video generation. The app includes a TikTok-style feed of AI-generated clips produced by other users, along with the Cameo tool, enabling users to star in their own videos.

There are also new tools rolling out regularly, including reusable avatars of pets and real-world objects called Character Cameos, and users can remix videos they see on the feed with new prompts and cameo characters.

Sora's star shines

That enticing feature is also a source of faced criticism for how Sora handles likenesses, depictions of public figures, and copyrighted characters. After enough complaints, OpenAI reversed its opt-out policy for people and rightsholders who didn't want their likeness used in Sora. Now you need explicit opt-in consent for cameos involving well-known characters or individuals. The company may even let rightsholders charge extra for the use of specific people or characters in the future.

Nonetheless, Sora's momentum suggests there's a real appetite for what Sora offers. The Android launch means the volume of content is likely to increase exponentially, though the distribution of quality will probably still mean a lot of it is, at best, mediocre.

Sure, you can whip up scenes in seconds with a few sentences that used to take days or weeks of design and work with traditional editing software, but democratizing content creation potential doesn't mean creative or innovative ideas are suddenly more common.

It also creates challenges around authenticity and attribution. When everyone can make convincing video content, what happens to our ability to verify what’s real, or even who's real?

As Sora goes mainstream, the pressure to build in ethical guardrails from the start will only grow. If you see a video of yourself saying things you've never said in a place that doesn't exist, you'd probably want some protection too.

• Google is now rolling out age verification checks for users on the Play Store.
• Users may be asked to upload ID, a selfie, or a credit card to prove their age
• The move comes in response to new state-level legislation in the US

Google has begun rolling out age verification systems in its Play Store, a move that will require some users to prove they are 18 or older before they can download certain applications.

This change, which mirrors a similar system recently introduced on YouTube, is part of Google's effort to comply with emerging digital age laws and better restrict access to mature content.

The new system prompts users to verify their age through one of several methods. These can include:

• Uploading a photo of a government-issued ID
• Taking a selfie for facial age estimation
• Entering your email address for association checks
• Providing credit card details
• Using the third-party verification service VerifyMy

According to reports, failure to complete this verification can prevent users from downloading a wide range of apps, not just those with explicit adult ratings.

The rollout has been primarily driven by new legislation in several U.S. states, including Texas, Utah, and Louisiana, which mandates that app stores implement stricter age-gating and child safety measures.

While the stated goal is to protect minors from accessing inappropriate content, the new requirements have sparked a significant conversation among users about data privacy and the security of their personal information.

Protecting your data during verification

The new requirement to upload sensitive documents, such as a driver's license, or submit to biometric scans, has understandably raised privacy concerns.

Users are worried about how this data will be stored, who will have access to it, and the risk of a data breach that could compromise it. Transmitting such personal information over the internet always carries a degree of risk, which is where using one of the best VPN services can provide an essential layer of security.

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, encrypts your internet connection, creating a secure and private tunnel for your data.

When uploading a copy of your ID or entering credit card details for age verification, using a trusted VPN ensures that this information is protected from prying eyes. This is particularly important when using public Wi-Fi networks, which are often unsecured and can be a hunting ground for cybercriminals.

For instance, a service like NordVPN encrypts your traffic so that even if it were intercepted, it would be unreadable. This added security measure can give users peace of mind when they are required to share sensitive personal data to comply with these new digital regulations.

While Google has its own security protocols in place, taking personal responsibility for your data by using a VPN is a sensible precaution in an increasingly complex online world.

• WhatsApp is working on a long-awaited new username feature
• The latest beta lets you reserve a username for yourself
• This feature is expected to roll out more widely soon

WhatsApp is frequently touted as a private messenger (although that reputation is often questioned), but there’s a glaring weakness in its security: you have to give out your phone number when adding people to your contacts book. That presents opportunities for less scrupulous people to use your number for spam and other unwanted behavior.

WhatsApp has spent years working on a fix in the form of usernames, which would allow you to choose a hand-picked name instead of your number. And according to the sleuths at WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will let you reserve a username before the system goes live, ensuring you can use the name you want. The latest development suggests that this new feature could be just around the corner.

Interestingly, the ability to reserve a WhatsApp username was first mentioned by WABetaInfo in relation to a prior Android update in early October 2025. Yet the latest beta version adds to that work, and WABetaInfo argues that the developer’s ongoing efforts on this feature suggest that “a rollout may be coming soon.”

With the latest beta version, WhatsApp has apparently refined the username reservation process, aiming to “provide users with a smoother and more optimized experience from the start.” The update is available as part of the WhatsApp testing program on the Google Play Store, so you can try it out for yourself.

How can you reserve a username?

It doesn’t appear that the ability to reserve a username is widely available yet, although WABetaInfo’s screenshots suggest that it’s coming soon.

While the website didn’t explain how you’ll be able to reserve a username for yourself, screenshots provided by WABetaInfo suggest it might be located on your WhatsApp profile page under the Username header.

When choosing a username, you must comply with WhatsApp’s rules, which specify that a name cannot contain website elements (like “www.” or “.com”), must contain at least one letter, and cannot duplicate a name in your contacts list. Each username must also be unique and should not conflict with that of any other user.

Additionally, you’ll have the option to add a username key, which is a code that first-time contacts must enter in order to be able to message you using your username. That should prevent unknown people from sending you unwanted texts and message requests.

Keep an eye on updates from WhatsApp, as the username reservation feature is expected to launch more widely soon. When that happens, you could get a better way to contact others while better preserving your privacy.

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• Malware-ridden apps are sneaking on to official app stores
• SparkKitty will steal photos to crack into your crypto wallet
• One infected app was downloaded over 10,000 times

A dangerous new malware strain targeting smartphone users has managed to sneak on to both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store without being detected, experts have warned.

SparkKitty was first spotted by cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky in January 2025, and uses optical character recognition to scan through your photos and harvest cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases.

Most crypto currency exchanges will tell a user to write down a memorable phrase when creating an account for recovery purposes, but many users will simply screenshot their memorable phrase - making it super easy for SparkKitty to steal.

Snooping through photos and stealing crypto

Kaspersky says the SparkKitty malware has been actively distributed across both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store since February 2024, and has also been distributed through unofficial means as well.

The infected apps have since been removed from both app stores.

In many cases, the apps appeared to be legitimate and were designed for numerous purposes. One infected app called SOEX was downloaded over 10,000 times on the Google Play Store, and appeared to be a messaging app with cryptocurrency trading and exchange features - the perfect disguise for a malware designed to target cryptocurrency wallets.

Once installed on a user's device, the app will ask for permission to access and modify the image library on both iOS and Android devices. After being granted access, the app then scans the image library and will re-scan if it detects modifications being made to the image library, such as new images being added or deleted.

Obviously, outside of the threat to crypto wallets there is the threat of users being extorted using other images that could be found in their image library, but there is no evidence of this happening so far.

Hackers are constantly developing new tactics to hide their malware on applications that can be distributed through trusted platforms such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Always remember to double check that the application you are downloading is made by a trusted developer, is definitely the authentic version of the app you are looking for, and has trustworthy reviews. If in doubt, don’t download it.

Also be wary of apps that ask for more permissions than they actually need, or apps that request permission to create new configuration profiles and certificates. Finally, when creating a memorable phrase for recovering an account, don’t keep it stored where it can be easily stolen.

Many of the best cloud storage services and best password managers offer encrypted storage vaults for storing important phrases.

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• TikTok is now available again on the App Store and Google Play Store in the US
• This follows a 75-day delay to the banning of the app, which saw service paused on January 18
• It's not entirely clear whether a deal will be reached to ensure TikTok's continued availability

TikTok has been made available on the App Store and Google Play Store again in the US, after the app was delisted when a ban upheld by the Supreme Court went into effect on January 18.

This means that you can once again download TikTok for free, whether you’re on an iOS device like the iPhone 16 or an Android handset such as the Google Pixel 9 or Samsung Galaxy S25.

The app, which boasted more than 150 million users in the US as of March 2023, was banned nationwide due to concerns over user privacy and interference by elements of the Chinese state.

However, President Donald Trump has made it something of a personal mission to keep TikTok available in the US; he signed an executive order to delay the ban by 75 days during his first days back in office, and ultimately hopes to force the sale of at least 50% of TikTok’s US business to an American owner.

Though TikTok was able to resume service on January 19, the app has been missing from app stores until now.

As The Guardian notes, the wait between Trump’s delaying of the TikTok ban and the app’s return to digital stores may have come as a result of Apple and Google's desire for assurances that they would not be prosecuted for hosting it.

TikTok is owned by Chinese media company ByteDance, which is not owned by the Chinese state or Chinese Communist Party, but is subject to the laws and regulations set in place by both. This has been a point of contention in US politics since TikTok came to prominence in the late 2010s.

Ironically, the idea of banning TikTok was initially floated by President Donald Trump towards the end of his first term in office – due to national security concerns, Trump signed an executive order to force ByteDance to divest from the service, but this was overturned by a court injunction and scuttled by the incoming Biden presidency.

TikTok is back – what now?

So, what now for the world’s fifth most-used social media platform?

If the current arrangement holds, ByteDance will have until April 5 to divest half of TikTok to US ownership or face having the app be banned once again.

However, Trump recently signaled that an extension to the deadline could be on the cards. As Reuters recounts, Trump suggested to reporters in the Oval Office that an extension would be considered, but that he didn’t believe it would be necessary.

Trump added that he would “make it worthwhile for China to do”, and suggested a partial sale of TikTok to the US would be in the interest of the Chinese state.

ByteDance has thus far remained adamant that TikTok is not for sale.

However, Trump also seemed to have his timeframes confused during the same press conference, referring to an as-yet unexplained period of “90 days”.

Few potential buyers have stated any sort of serious intention to purchase TikTok. According to AP, the currently small list includes investors Frank McCourt and Kevin O'Leary, former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, and internet personality Jimmy Donaldson (better known as MrBeast).

There have also been murmurs suggesting that Elon Musk may step in to purchase the site, but this is a quieter rumor.

Ultimately, it’s hard to predict whether TikTok will stick around for good, as this depends on mutual agreement between a potential buyer, the US government, ByteDance, and the Chinese state.

Bad luck for TikTok phone resellers

One of the most bizarre effects of the TikTok ban was the emergence of a second-hand market for smartphones with the app still installed.

As noted by Game Rant, TikTok phones were being listed on eBay for as much as $25,000 (roughly £20,000 / AU$40,000) in the wake of the ban, ostensibly targeting users who had no other access to the app.

While it’s hard to assess how many – if any – of these phones actually sold, one can imagine that the reappearance of TikTok on official app stores for free will cause a major price collapse for these ludicrously expensive second-hand devices.

At least, that’s what I’m hoping for – nobody in their right mind should be selling or buying a smartphone for this kind of money.

Anyhow, whether you’re sporting one of the best phones money can buy or keeping it simple with one of the best cheap phones, TikTok is available once again. What do you make of this whole situation? Do you think TikTok is sticking around for good? Let us know in the comments below.

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DeepSeek has reportedly disappeared from Italy's Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with the disappearance starting on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

The block came a day after the country's data watchdog, the Garante, filed a privacy complaint asking for clarification on how the ChatGPT rival handles users' personal data.

Italian iPhone and Android users have confirmed to TechRadar the new AI chatbot isn't available in the app stores to download (see image below).

The DeepSeek website remains available across the country for now. Italians can also still use their DeepSeek app if they had already downloaded it before the block came into force.

At the time of writing, no official explanations about Italy's DeepSeek block have been shared.

"I don't know if it's bound to us or not, we asked for some information. The company has now 20 days to reply," Pasquale Stanzione, head of Italy's data watchdog, said to Italian news agency ANSA.

What's certain is that Italy isn't the only European country going after the new Chinese AI chatbot over privacy concerns. Belgium and Ireland also filed similar complaints, fearing that Deepseek's privacy policy may be in breach of GDPR rules.

Can a VPN help bypassing DeepSeek block?

Despite the best VPN services being known to help users bypass online restrictions, Italians may require some extra workarounds. Like the US TikTok ban, a VPN isn't a one-click solution for the DeepSeek withdrawal.

That's mainly because using a VPN doesn't spoof your App Store location. This means that you'll need to "find another way of downloading the app other than the Apple App or Google Play stores," explains Eamonn Maguire, Head of Account Security at Proton – the provider behind Proton VPN.

Surely not impossible, however, experts suggest nonetheless doing this with caution.

"This week's news around data privacy issues and leaked databases are concerning. When coupled with the company's potential links to the Chinese government, this is even more worrying," Maguire told TechRadar.

While DeepSeek's privacy policy might look very similar to those of OpenAI-developed ChatGPT, Euroconsumers – a coalition of five national consumer protection organizations, which includes Italy and Belgium – found "multiple violations of European and national data protection regulations."

Moreover, as per the provider's own wording, users' personal information is stored "in secure servers located in the People's Republic of China" and will be used to "comply with our legal obligations, or as necessary to perform tasks in the public interest, or to protect the vital interests of our users and other people."

All in all, Maguire said: "We recommend users act with caution when using AI tools linked to China, particularly when sharing sensitive business or personal information."

Update: On January 30, 2025, also Opera Browser for Android gained the new Google Security badge. We amended the copy to reflect this.

The Google Play Store has just introduced a new way for VPN providers to show they offer secure and trustworthy services – a "Verified" badge.

The new badge is designed to highlight consumer-facing VPN apps "that prioritize user privacy and safety," the Big Tech giant explains in a blog post. The goal is to help users make more informed choices about the VPN apps they download and use.

Google's new badge will be displayed on the VPN app's details page and in search results as a guarantee the virtual private network (VPN) service meets Google's safety standards.

How to get Google's "Verified" badge

"Earning the VPN badge isn't just about checking a box – it's proof that your VPN app invests in app safety," said Google, pointing out how the verification label will help providers stand out in a crowded VPN market.

To be eligible for the new verification badge, VPN providers need to complete a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation. This is essentially an evaluation of the app's security.

VPN apps must also have at least 10,000 installs and 250 reviews. They also require an "organization developer" account type and to be published on Google for at least 90 days to qualify.

Eligible app developers must also submit information on how they collect user data and opt into independent security reviews.

While other factors contribute to the evaluation, Google explains, fulfilling these requirements "significantly increases" the chances of getting the VPN Verified badge.

Google's initiative comes as a very much-needed move. Increasingly more instances have proven downloading a legitimate VPN app from the internet isn't enough to be safe.

At the beginning of the month, for example, Google warned of legit VPN apps being used as a backdoor to infect devices with malware.

VPN downloads have also increased across the US lately to evade age verification laws and temporary blocks enforced on TikTok.

Some of the best VPN apps have already received a verification badge. These include TechRadar's top pick NordVPN, Hide.me, and Aloha Browser.

A day after Google's announcement, also Opera Browser for Android with built-in VPN became one of the first apps to earn the new security badge.

Google's new Verified badge adds to Google's ongoing commitment to better transparency and security in its App Store. These include the privacy labels rolled out in 2022 and the independent security review banners introduced the year after.

Amazon Fire tablets rank among the best cheap tablets around; they're lightweight, durable, and come with quite a few useful apps. However, unlike other Android tablets, Fire slates don’t (officially) have access to the Google Play Store, so you can’t download many new apps.

The Google Play Store is a staple of the Android experience and your gateway to the world's best Android apps. Amazon Fire tablets only let you download from a curated list of apps – a far smaller selection than the Play Store offers – so many people choose to side-load the Play Store onto their Amazon devices.

If that’s you, a word of warning: installing the Play Store onto an Amazon tablet is complicated, time-consuming, and frustrating. I’ve been writing about technology for years and even I found this process hard – I had to reset my tablet multiple times when I accidentally made a mistake, or couldn’t figure something out and needed to start again. If I wasn’t tasked with covering this subject for work, I would’ve just bought a cheap Android tablet.

Only try this if you’re well-versed in tech, have a good half-hour to an hour to spare, and don’t mind having to reset your Fire tab a few times if you make a mistake. I’d also recommend backing up your data and removing any memory cards, to be safe, and most importantly reading this guide before you begin.

So, if you hardy tech users are ready, here’s how to get the Google Play Store on an Amazon Fire tablet.

Tools and requirements

To install the Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet, you’ll need two things:

• A Google account, which you created previously.
• An Amazon Fire tablet. It’ll work on any kind, though the model will affect the process – more on that later. It needs to be connected to the internet.

Quick steps on how to get the Play Store on an Amazon Fire Tablet

In short, here’s how you get the Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet. For a more in-depth guide, continue reading.

• Set up your tablet by backing everything up, finding out your slate’s model number and software version, and allowing installations from Silk.
• Download APKs of the four apps you’ll need: Google Account Manager, Google Services Framework, Google Play Services, and Google Play Store.
• Install the four apps in the above order.
• Reboot your tablet and log into the Play Store.

Step-by-step guide

Get your tablet ready, it’s time to begin.

1. Set up your tablet

To install the Google Play Store, you’ll need to get your tablet ready first. Before you even begin, I’d recommend backing up your data so you can easily reset the tablet without worrying about losing anything.

First, you’ll need to know what kind of Amazon tablet you actually have. To find out, select the Settings app from the home page and then press Device Options near the bottom. Here, under About Fire Tablet, you’ll see your model – mine, as you’ll see in the image, is the Fire HD 10 (13th Generation).

Make a note of this because it’ll be vitally important for the later steps. Next, navigate back to the Settings app because we’re not finished here yet.

Next, we’re making sure we can install the apps we need. From the Settings app, press Security & Privacy and then Apps from unknown sources under the Privacy sub-menu.

You’ll now be shown a list of all the apps you install – on mine, you can only see Silk, but if you’ve installed other apps, you’ll have a longer list. Select Silk Browser because this is the one you need, and toggle Allow from this source on (the dot will be on the right side, and the toggle slider will be light red).

Before we proceed, double-check that you have a decent internet connection, because we’ll be downloading some files. Once you’re definitely connected, it’s time to move on.

2. Download the apps you need

To get the Google Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet, we’re going to be using what are known as Android Packages or APKs, which are files you download from your internet browser to install apps. It’s a way of circumnavigating app stores to get apps, basically, but there’s an element of risk since you’re allowing unvetted files onto your tablet. You’ll need to download four different ones, in order to use the Play Store on your Fire tab.

I’ll run you through the process in detail for the first app, so you know how to download APKs, and then help you work out which you need to install. The tricky bit is that, depending on which Fire tablet you have, the exact files are different.

Quite a few websites online let you download APKs. For this guide I used APKMirror, but APKPure and F Droid are generally considered to be two other safer options.

The first app you’ll need is the Google Account Manager, and there are two options to download. If you have a Fire 7 from the 8th generation or above, Fire HD 8 from the 8th generation or above, Fire HD 10 from the 9th generation or above, or Fire Max 11 from the 9th generation or above, you’ll need one called Google Account Manager v7.1.2. Other tablets need v5.1.

You can find these apps on APKMirror here. On that page scroll down to ‘All Versions’ and the v7.1.2 option is right at the top – v5.1 is lower down. Select the one you need. Then scroll down to Download Google Account Manager [version] and select it. On this new page scroll down to Download APK in red and select it. A pop-up will confirm that you really want to download the file – select download and the process will begin.

One down, three to go, but now the real work begins – at least you know the process for downloading an APK now.

Download numero dos is Google Services Framework, which you can find on APKMirror here. There are various apps to pick from so it’s time for another list.

If you have an Amazon Fire 7 that’s 12th gen or beyond, go for Google Services Framework V10. If it’s 9th gen then it’s Google Services Framework v9, if it’s 8th gen it’s Framework v7, and if it’s older it’s Framework v5. If you’ve got a Fire HD 8 that’s 11th gen or beyond it’s v10, 10th gen it’s v9, 8th or 9th gen it’s v7, or older it’s v5. Next, Fire HD 10, and that’s Framework v9 for 9th gen or beyond and Framework v5 for earlier. Finall,y Fire Max 11 is Framework v9. Phew!

Now onto download three, and it’s Google Play Services (not Google Play Store yet!). Find it on APKMirror here, and prepare to balk at how many versions of this there are (it gets updated most days, sometimes multiple times a day, and each new version is listed individually here).

What worked for me was simply selecting a version from the list that was listed with nodpi, and the right version of Android that my tablet had. So, which version does yours have? Well, it depends on the generation.

Anything from 2022 and beyond, from gen 12 or later, is Android 11+, and if you bought a new tablet more recently than that, it’ll be this one. If it’s in the 9th to 11th gens, it’ll be Android 9+. The exception is the Fire 7, with the 9th-gen one requiring Android 6+ alongside the 8th-gen models. Anything earlier than that needs Android 5+.

Now we’re onto the final app, and it’s the main one: Google Play Store, found on APKMirror here. As before, there are a horrid number of options in the list – pick the most recent one and find a file that’s listed as nodpi and universal for the version of Android your tablet has. Once again, download it.

3. Install the apps you need

Here’s the reason I told you to read this whole article in advance: if you install the apps in the wrong order, then you could ruin your chances of installing the Play Store, period. I did this and found that the best option was to simply wipe my tablet and start again.

Firstly, here’s how to install APK apps on your Fire tablet. On the home page, select Files (the icon is a folder) and then press the three-horizontal-line hamburger menu at the top-left (next to the word Documents in the blue bar). In here, select Downloads.

Now you’ll see listed all the files you downloaded, and I’d recommend holding your tablet landscape for this part so you can better see the file names.

To install an app, press it, then when the disclaimer appears select continue. You’ll get another disclaimer, press install. Now the app will install. Vitally for this process, every time you install an app, press Done and NOT Open!

Now on to the order:

1. com.google.android.gsf.login (Google Account Manager)

2. com.google.Android.gsf (Google Services Framework)

3. com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services)

4. com.android.vending (Google Play Store)

For the Play Store installation, you’ll again be prompted to open it but do not press open!

4. Prepare your tablet for the Play Store

There’s one vital final step before you use the Play Store: reboot your tablet.

Reboot your tablet by pressing and holding the power button (that’s the one you press to lock and unlock the device). If you hold it for a few seconds, a menu will appear letting you restart the tablet or turn it off (turn it back on by pressing and holding this button again).

Once your Amazon Fire tablet has warmed back up, give it a few moments, and then press the Play Store icon on your home page.

You’ll have to log in to the Play Store using your Google account and then, in theory, you should be in! When I first did this, the Play Store initially thought something was wrong and gave me an error message, but then it let me go through to the Play Store and log in anyway.

Once you’ve logged in to the Play Store, you can now download apps just as you would on any other tablet.

Troubleshooting

Apps for Android phones are plentiful and easy to download. But once you've downloaded an app it doesn't mean it has to live on your phone forever. It's a good idea to have a regular cull of your phone's apps to avoid cluttering your phone up with apps you don't use. These take up space and can slow down your phone - or just make it harder to find the apps you do use.

Below, we cover three different methods of easily uninstalling apps from your Android phone.

Quick steps for how to uninstall apps on Android

• Press and hold the app icon
• Click uninstall

OR

• Navigate to the Google Play Store
• Tap your profile icon
• Head to 'Manage apps and devices'
• Select manage
• Uninstall the apps of your choice

Step-by-step guide for hw to uninstall apps on Android

The screenshots below are from a Google Pixel 8 Pro phone. The screen on other Android phones may look slightly different but the functionality will be similar.

It's easy to manage apps on your Android phone by regularly uninstalling those you no longer need. It's a good idea to do this regularly to ensure optimal device performance and also just to make sure that everything on your phone is better organized. 

Whether you drag and delete apps directly from the home screen, manage multiple apps uninstalls through the Play Store's settings, or individually search and remove apps from within the Play Store itself, you're now on your way to keeping your device clutter-free.

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• Android 15 redacts sensitive notifications from “untrusted” apps, which happens to include Link to Windows, and this will cause these notifications to not be shown via Phone Link for some
• Android users, such as Google Pixel and Sony Xperia users, might face issues if Link to Windows wasn’t pre-installed
• Despite this, Phone Link still works for calls, messages, and apps; sensitive alerts need manual checks

In a moment that reminds us that Google and Microsoft are indeed two different companies, it’s been reported that users of both Windows Phone Link on Windows 11 and mobile devices running Android 15 might find that Phone Link is a little less helpful than before. Some people trying to do this might find that certain sensitive notifications don’t appear anymore while using Phone Link on their PC while their Android device is connected.

Phone Link is a feature in Windows 11 that allows you to access your Android device via your PC and do things like view notifications, read and reply to messages, make and receive phone calls, view media such as photos, and use some Android apps. You can even use your Android phone as a webcam and sync files between your PC and mobile right in File Explorer.

What’s changing and why

Google released Android version 15 in October 2024 and in that, the company introduced a new privacy rule: it hides (or “redacts”) sensitive notifications, including 2FA codes (those one-time codes used for logging in securely that people receive as a message on their mobile) and alerts from banking apps. It’ll censor notifications from any app that Google deems as an “untrusted” notification monitoring app, according to Windows Central.

It appears that some users have been presented with a notification in Phone Link warning them that:

"With the latest Android updates, Phone Link no longer shows notifications that contain sensitive information for your protection."

On Android, you need a companion app to Phone Link named “Link to Windows” and it appears that Google has (accidentally or otherwise) designated this as untrustworthy. However, this will only affect people who have downloaded the Link to Windows app from the Google Play Store and not those who are using Link to Windows on devices that came with it pre-installed. Some phones affected by this quirk include Google Pixel and Sony Xperia models, while Samsung Galaxy AI devices will likely go unaffected.

Phone Link is still useful even if you upgrade to Android 15 on a phone that didn’t come with Phone Link by default and have installed Link to Windows manually from the Google Play Store. You can still check messages, manage apps, and make calls. It’s just that you’ll need to physically check your phone for some sensitive messages after installing Android 15, if you don’t already.

Phone Link is one of the most useful parts of Windows 11 and it allows you to work, for example, on your PC without having to check your phone. If you're used to checking all of your mobile notifications on your PC, I can imagine having to adjust back being slightly annoying.

I also wonder if Google will amend this in a future update after revising this policy with regards to Phone Link, although we don't have any indication of this yet. Users of both Windows 11 PCs and devices running Android 15 without Phone Link pre-installed will have to hope for the best (or let Google know that they're not happy about this change).

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Following a years-long legal battle that began in 2020, Epic Games has finally come out ahead of Google with a US judge issuing a final ruling that the Android maker must open the Play Store to third-party rivals.

There are a lot of details to come from the ruling, so we’ve grouped the most important into four sections below to explain what the judge’s decision means for you.

There are two important things to note, however. The first is that Google has announced it’s appealing the verdict, adding in a statement that it will “ask the courts to pause implementing the remedies to maintain a consistent and safe experience for users and developers as the legal process moves forward.”

So while the following changes could happen, there’s a non-zero chance they won’t happen for some time (until after the appeal process is complete) or at all (if Google’s appeal is successful).

The other important detail is this ruling would only hold Google to these new rules for three years in the US – from November 1st, 2024, until November 1st, 2027. When the deadline passes we suspect Google won’t waste time returning the Play Store to how it was before the ruling, but we’ll have to wait and see. And if you live outside the US, Google won’t have to change a thing unless other similar rulings are passed there.

1. More choice

The biggest change for Android users will be they’ll have more choice in the app store they want to use, and finding those third-party stores will be easier.

That’s because Google will need to distribute these third-party store rivals through Google Play – so you’ll no longer need to go through the rigamarole of finding and downloading a third-party APK your phone warns you might be dangerous to install a non-Google Play Store app store.

This also won’t be one of those choices where it’s not really a choice because one option is clearly superior because it has all the apps. As part of the ruling, Google must offer these new rival stores full access to the complete Google Play Store software catalog – it’ll be up to app developers alone to individually opt-out of appearing on non-Play Stores.

2. No exclusivity deals

On that note, the ruling bars Google from incentivizing developers to launch on the Play Store exclusively or incentivizing them to launch on it first; Google’s also not allowed to incentivize developers to not launch their apps on rival stores (slightly tricky wording, but it should prevent exclusivity deal loopholes).

Google also can’t pay device makers or mobile phone carriers to pre-install the Play Store or to not pre-install a third-party app store.

One thing that doesn’t appear to break the rules however is offering incentives for developers to push users to one store over another – such as deals on in-app purchases, or Google offering exclusive discounts. This could be a major win for us as by changing your app store you could find you’re able to get a better deal, but we’ll have to see how this develops.

3. Alternative payment systems

Google will also no longer be able to tie Google Play Store apps to its Google Play Billing system – a system that charges app makers a 30% fee on sales. It must also let Android app makers run and promote alternative payment systems, and allow them to set whatever prices they want regardless of the Google Play Billing price.

What this means is developers could still use Google Play Billing but also have their own billing option and charge different amounts for each – ideally charging less if we don’t use Play Store Billing.

This may also force Google to rejig how it splits revenue through Google Play Billing to perhaps make it a less bad deal for the app makers.

4. Security shouldn’t change

All this talk of third-party app stores shouldn’t mean your Android device’s security will be adversely affected despite what Google claims. That’s not to say you shouldn’t still be careful when downloading apps you don’t recognize – bad actors can even wind up on the official Play Store from time to time – but Google can still take “reasonable measures” which are described as “strictly necessary and narrowly tailored” to maintain the safety and security of Google Play as it opens up to rivals stores.

These measures will be “comparable” to the measures it currently operates on the Play Store and should prevent a dodgy third-party app store from running amok. Google can even charge a fee for these security efforts, with any disputes in these cases set to be overseen by a technical committee that will be appointed by both Google and Epic.

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The official Android app for Kaspersky antivirus software have been removed from the Google Play app store in the latest blow for the company.

BleepingComputer notes the move appears to have happened over the weekend, with Kaspersky's developer accounts also disabled and removed following a recent ban by the US government.

"The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security recently announced a variety of restrictions on Kaspersky. As a result, we have removed Kaspersky’s apps from Google Play," a Google spokesperson said.

Kaspersky Android app removed

In a post on its official forums, Kaspersky said it was aware of the issue, and was investigating why its software is no longer available on Google's app store.

"The downloads and updates of Kaspersky products are temporarily unavailable on the Google Play store," a Kaspersky employee posted.

"Kaspersky is currently investigating the circumstances behind the issue and exploring potential solutions to ensure that users of its products can continue downloading and updating their applications from Google Play."

The company said users could still download its apps from alternative app stores, such as Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Xiaomi GetApps, or install the apps by downloading the .apk installation file from Kaspersky's website.

The move is the latest problem to hit the security giant, which has faced mounting issues in recent months as it faces US sanctions following concerns over national security. The US has long argued Kaspersky software is at risk of being manipulated by the Russian government to hand over secrets and control of the computers, and ordered a full ban on the sale of its products earlier in 2024.

The Russian firm was added to the US Entity List, which comprises “foreign individuals, companies, and organizations deemed a national security concern,”, with a ban on the sale of Kaspersky products starting July 20, 2024.

Subsequent updates to Kaspersky software also ceased from September 29, but the company did offer free security products and safety tips to its customers for six months.

This was followed by further controversy in September 2024 when Kaspersky customers in the US found their antivirus software replaced without warning with a new solution called UltraAV.

"Kaspersky has recently been informed by the Google Play store that its developer account has been terminated, and its product apps removed from the platform," a company spokesperson told TechRadar Pro in a statement.

"Google’s decision refers to recent U.S. government actions, restricting the distribution and sales of Kaspersky products in the United States after September 29. Although these restrictions have no material legal effect outside the U.S., Google unilaterally decided to remove our products from Google Play ahead of September 29, depriving worldwide users of access to Kaspersky solutions."

"We believe Google’s decision is based on an overinterpretation of the U.S. restrictions, which was not backed by a confirmation from the U.S. Department of Commerce. These restrictive measures do not prohibit the sale or distribution of Kaspersky products and services outside the country. Kaspersky has also communicated this understanding to the U.S. Department of Commerce, and we hope to receive additional guidance from the Department shortly."

"Kaspersky remains committed to protecting the world from cyberthreats, and users can still continue to download Kaspersky products from other mobile stores, including Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, Xiaomi GetApps or directly from the Kaspersky website: https://www.kaspersky.com/small-to-medium-business-security/downloads/endpoint."

"Please see the details for Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android installation at the link How to install and update Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android."

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If you prefer reading your literature on one of the best ereaders rather than on a tablet or using the original paperback, you’ve probably heard of Boox. The e-reader company has made a name for itself thanks to its slim, lightweight e-ink devices, and it’s just released a new addition to its lineup.

The Boox Go 6 is the latest in the Go range, and it continues the company’s tradition of thin and light ereaders. The Go 6 weighs 146g and is a mere 6.8mm thick, making it extremely easy to pack in a bag for a little holiday reading.

Despite that, the biggest selling point is likely to be the Go 6’s Carta 1300 display. This e-ink screen offers 300ppi and “enhanced visual quality and performance,” Boox says, with deeper blacks and brighter whites resulting in sharper text and a more comfortable reading experience.

There are also built-in dual-tone front lights, which should help guarantee eye comfort whatever the situation, whether you’re indulging in a little light reading during the day or night.

The Android advantage

The Boox Go 6 runs on Android. As we said when we reviewed the Boox Note Air 3, using Android adds a lot of versatility – as long as your preferred e-book provider has an Android app, it’ll work on the Go 6.

It also means the device is not just limited to reading apps, as you can download Android apps for web browsing and audio playback as well, if you like. Boox says the device comes with the Google Play Store pre-installed (which isn't the case on Kindles), making it easy to load up the ereader with compatible apps.

Rounding out the Go 6 is a microSD card slot to expand its storage, a built-in artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, and battery life that apparently lasts “for days on a single charge,” Boox says. The Boox Go 6 costs $149.99 (around £145 / AU$220) and is available to buy now on Boox’s website.

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Google is introducing sweeping changes to its Play Store on Android in an effort to make finding apps on its platform easier. Multiple features are being added to the digital storefront including a section dedicated entirely to manga of all things. 

But before we get into the new page, we're first going to over what may be the most impactful change: a home screen widget called Collections, which allows one to keep track of what’s happening across apps and actively receive recommendations.

You can alter the widget's design to a full-screen view, a single-line bar, or something in between with a few icons, but regardless of layout, it splits things up by categories of apps. For example, Watch, gives video recommendations for YouTube and streaming services. It even has a Continue Watching section that takes you back to a show or movie where you left off.

There’s also Listen for audio content like music or podcasts, and Shop delivers deals you might be interested in. The latter can return you to “active shopping carts inside [other] apps.” Collections is available for download from the Google Play Store; however, it seems it's still rolling out, and the feature might not be ready just yet. 

Nothing happened when we attempted to install the widget, and it didn’t appear anywhere on our Android phone. 

AI and new controls

It wouldn't be a new Google update without artificial intelligence making an appearance somewhere. 

During the past I/O 2024 event, the tech giant implemented AI-generated reviews into the Play Store to quickly deliver information about an app. For this update, Google has decided to utilize AI to help people “compare [software] in similar categories.” A comparison page details an app’s most notable features, how many times it’s been downloaded, and what it does.

The company is also adding several search controls, starting with interest filters for video games in the search bar. These let you narrow down the game genre you’re most interested in or would like to play, be it action titles or puzzle games.

If you want to control your experience on the platform, Google is implementing Personalization in Play to manage your app data. What’s shared or not shared will have a direct influence on the listings that appear. As an example, revoking data-sharing permission from the Fitness app would cause fitness-related software to pop up less often. The same applies to finance apps, productivity apps, or whatever; they’ll become less common.

But arguably, one of the best features is exclusive to Japan, and it’s the new Comics section. Google partnered with Japanese publishers to create an entire section dedicated to manga and manga-related content. It includes first-chapter previews, editor picks, fan reviews, and trailers. The best part is that Japanese users don’t have to install a single app as it will be built right in.

Given how massively popular manga is worldwide, it would’ve been great if this section had seen a wider release. But sadly, to the dismay of fans of the medium worldwide, that isn’t the case. 

We reached out to Google asking if it plans to expand the Comics tab and when exactly this Play Store update roll out. This story will be updated at a later time.

In the meantime, check out TechRadar's list of the best Android phones for 2024.

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It’s good mobile security practice to keep your devices regularly updated, but a new piece of Android malware suggests doing that could in fact lead to disaster. That’s because hackers have launched a devious new trojan that masquerades as an official Google Play update.

First discovered by cybersecurity company Cyble (via Tom’s Guide), the malware has the power to completely take over your phone. Dubbed Antidot, it can harvest your text messages, log which keys you press, and control things like your camera and screen lock. That means it’s an incredibly powerful weapon in the wrong hands, with the ability to track your passwords and banking logins and thereby gain access to a tremendous trove of personal data.

It’s thought that you’ll first encounter Antidot through phishing messages that claim to be from Google and tell you to update Google Play. If you follow the link in the message, you’re led to a convincing-looking website that offers up a malicious download package, which in turn installs Antidot. As you might have realized, this means the download needs to be sideloaded rather than coming from the legitimate Google Play Store itself, which should immediately ring alarm bells.

Cyble’s researchers noticed that Antidot can display pages in several different languages, suggesting that it can quickly be tailored for victims in different regions. That implies a level of sophistication beyond that possessed by simple amateur hackers.

How to stay safe

This hacking campaign serves to highlight the risks of installing anything from a suspicious location. The Google Play app can be updated from within the app itself, so Google would never recommend you install an update from a web page or other location – even if the page is carefully designed to look like the company’s official website.

For simplicity, you can enable automatic app updates on Android by opening the Google Play Store app, tapping your profile icon in the top-right corner, then selecting Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps. Now choose to either update over Wi-Fi or any network. This should ensure everything is kept up to date, rendering suspicious update texts and emails completely moot.

It would also be a good idea to install one of the best Android antivirus apps on your device. It only takes one slip-up for a bad actor to trick you, but an antivirus app can act as another line of defense to stop malware in its tracks. There’s also Google Play Protect, which scans apps downloaded from outside the Play Store.

Throw in a healthy dose of common sense and you should be able to steer clear of trojans like Antidot and keep your Android device safe from harm.

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A new study analyzing Google Play downloads of productivity tools has shown an overwhelming majority of mobile users turning to their smartphones to navigate their professional lives and schedule day-to-day tasks.

The report by SplitMetrics found the top apps in the business and productivity categories have amassed a staggering 4.7 billion and 55 billion downloads respectively. Microsoft’s LinkedIn leads the business category with a whopping 1.5 billion lifetime downloads, followed by video conferencing giants Zoom (1.1bn) and Microsoft Teams (426m), then OfficeSuite (195m) and Indeed (188m).

In the productivity category, it’s Google that leads the way. Google Drive has racked up an impressive 10 billion lifetime downloads, followed by Google Calendar (6bn), Microsoft OneDrive (4bn), Google Assistant (3bn) and Google Keep (2.7bn).

Productivity boosts all round

The study also reveals the apps that have delivered the most significant year-on-year growth. Lopay: Payments & POS achieved a 339% increase in the business section in 2023, followed by Etsy Seller (329%), JobSwipe (221%), Parcel Tracking - pkge Mobile (144%) and Shopify (83%).

PDF Reader - PDF Viewer experienced the biggest growth in productivity in 2023 with a 701% jump. It was followed by Notepad (457%), All Document Reader (431%), Google Tasks (29%) and Link to Windows (21%). 

Thomas Kriebernegg, General Manager of SplitMetrics, said: “The data paints a clear picture. Tools that empower people to be productive and manage their work or businesses effectively are very popular. The rise of on-demand services, remote work, and mobile entrepreneurship is driving the demand for user-friendly, feature-rich business and productivity apps. While user acquisition costs may be higher in the business category, the high engagement and potential value users bring means there's a significant market opportunity.”

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Google has been emailing Android users about an update to the Play Store allowing you to enable biometric verification for purchases. We got the message over the weekend buried in our inbox. It states users can set fingerprint or facial recognition on the digital storefront as long as they have a mobile device that supports the technology. Once set up, “you’ll be asked to verify it’s you with biometrics” every time you buy something on the platform. 

We can confirm the update is live as it appeared on our phone. To turn it on, open the Play Store app then tap Settings near the bottom. Expand Purchase Verification and toggle the switch to activate Biometric Verification. The storefront will then ask you to type in your password to confirm the setting change. 

It’s important to mention that the final step will change within the coming weeks. According to the email, Google will let users use biometrics instead of requiring them to enter their account password.

The purpose of this feature is to seemingly provide an extra layer of safety to protect yourself against unauthorized transactions in case your phone is ever compromised. You don’t have to use a password anymore, although you will always have the option.

Minor, yet important detrails

There are a few minor details you should know regarding the feature. 

At a glance, it seems the biometric verification will primarily live on the Play Store. We attempted to purchase an ebook and were met with a fingerprint reader to authenticate our identity before checkout. Then we discovered the security feature will appear on third-party apps, but its presence on them varies. 

We purchased items for the game Arknights on our Android phone to see if a biometric verification reader popped up. It didn’t. The checkout went through without any hindrance. However, when we signed up for a three-month trial on Amazon Music, a Play Store message showed up asking if we would like to enable biometrics for future purchases. 

This leads us to believe that some apps will support the new verification method while others won’t. It may depend on whether or not a developer decides to support the security fixture on their product. 

Do note this has been our personal experience with the tool. It may operate differently for you. Google didn’t provide much information in their email or Play Store Help page. Of course, we reached out to the tech giant for clarification and will update the story if we learn anything new.

If you're looking for a great new app to download, be sure to check out the best 10 Android apps of 2023 according to Google.

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Google is reportedly giving Parallel Downloading another shot after the feature reemerged in a recent Play Store update.

If you’re not familiar with it, parallel downloading would give Android users the ability to install multiple apps at the same time. The tech first appeared about four years ago when a Reddit user noticed they were able to download Chrome, Google Photos, and YouTube onto their mobile device simultaneously. Since then, it seemingly faded into obscurity until it was discovered by industry expert Assemble Debug after diving into the files of Google Play version 40.0.13. 

Current limitations

He was surprised to see that it was fully functioning. Screenshots on TheSpAndroid blog reveal Assemble Debug could download Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Acrobat without issue. At a glance, the process works similarly to single-app installations. The time it’ll take to get a piece of software on your phone depends on its file size.

As he investigated further, Assemble Debug found the feature was held back by a few limitations. First, parallel downloading does not work for updates. If you want to download patches for multiple apps, you’ll have to do it individually. Nothing is changing on that front. 

Second, Google is restricting the amount of simultaneous installations to just two apps. Assemble Debug points out that the restriction is controlled by an internal flag. He deactivated the flag and was able to increase the download limit to “five apps at once.” 

It's possible Google may alter the maximum amount of installs at any time, but they’re keeping things small for now. There could be an increase in a future testing period.

Joining the early test

For those interested, it is possible to activate parallel downloading on your device by grabbing the latest Play Store patch; however, the process is tricky. TheSpAndroid states you’ll need a rooted Android smartphone. Rooting isn’t super difficult to do, but it does take a while to accomplish and you run the risk of totally bricking the hardware. If you want to learn how to do this, we have a guide with step-by-step instructions on how to root your Android phone.

Once that’s all done, you’ll have to enable a certain flag via the GMS Flags app which you can find over on GitHub. Details on how to do this can be found in TheSpAndroid’s report.

It’s unknown when this feature will officially launch. Considering the company is experimenting with Parallel Downloads again after so long, it could be hinting at an imminent release. Hopefully, this is the case. Being able to install apps in bulk is a nice quality-of-life upgrade. It can help new phone owners save a lot of time when setting up their devices.

Speaking of which, check out TechRadar's list of the best Android phones for 2024 if you're looking to upgrade.

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LastPass has warned that there is a fake version of its app on the Apple App Store, called "LassPass Password Manager [sic.]." 

The password manager vendor explained that the developer of the fake app is listed as Parvati Patel, and copies the firms' branding and user interface. The real developer of the legitimate app is "LogMeIn Inc.", the parent company of LastPass.

LastPass says that it "is actively working to get this application taken down as soon as possible, and will continue to monitor for fraudulent clones of our applications and/or infringements upon our intellectual property."

More trouble

This is not the first security incident to affect LastPass. In October 2022, it infamously suffered a series of breaches which resulted in users' password vaults being stolen by threat actors. However, the vaults remained encrypted, so the hackers could only access the stored credentials if they guessed or cracked the master passwords securing the vaults.  

There was still some fallout linked to the breaches, however, including a crypto-stealing scam that was thought to have made use of stolen LastPass accounts. The hackers in this case may have been able to crack the master passwords securing users' vaults, especially if the passwords were weak and easy to guess, or had been reused from other accounts that were found in previous data breaches. 

It is not often fraudulent apps of such a high profile are found in Apple's app store, given the stringent controls the tech giant places on it. Google's Play Store, on the other hand, frequently sees fake and malicious apps uploaded to its platform.

Recently, six malicious Android apps were found on the store that were pretending to be chat apps, but actually contained info-stealing malware that could swipe contacts, call logs, and SMS messages.

On its blog post, LastPass has provided the URLs for both the fake and legitimate versions of the app on the App Store, "so that customers can verify they are downloading the correct LastPass application for themselves until the fraudulent app is taken down."

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You may be eligible for a payout from Google after details of a recent lawsuit settlement have finally been revealed. 

Back in 2021, 36 US states as well as Washington DC sued the tech giant over “anti-competitive practices” occurring on the Google Play Store. They claimed the company made it difficult for developers to distribute their apps on other platforms, discouraged users from using third-party stores, and even overcharged customers. A settlement was reached this past September between both sides, although no one knew what it entailed until this week. Now, Google has pledged to “pay $630 million into a settlement fund” that will be distributed to 102 million “eligible consumers”. The company will also be paying an extra $70 million into a separate fund that the states involved will use at their discretion.

Meeting certain criteria

The Washington Post explains in its report that eligible consumers need to meet certain criteria before they can receive any money. First, individuals must have a legal address located in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands listed on their Google payments profile. Second, they must have purchased an app on Google Play or “made an in-app purchase… through Google Play Billing from August 16, 2016 [to] September 30, 2023.” Buying a subscription does count as an in-app purchase, by the way.

At the time of this writing, it’s unknown how or when eligible users will get the payout. Details on this part of the deal should come out once the courts formally approve Google’s settlement. Again, it’s unknown when this will happen.

Play Store changes

In addition to the payout, Google will be making multiple changes to the Play Store to make things less restrictive. Most notably, it will be simplifying app sideloading which is where you install software onto your phone directly from the developer’s website. And it will be “updating the language” around sideloading to better inform people of all the potential risks that come with performing this method. 9To5Google states the revamp will merge certain warning screens. 

The company goes on to say it will expand User Choice Billing, offering an alternative billing method besides Google Play’s system. This will have the added benefit of allowing app developers to take home more money at the end of the day. No one knows exactly when these Play Store changes will go live. Similar to the payout, the update is contingent on the courts approving the final settlement.

Despite all this, Google is not out of the woods yet. Details on Google’s other settlement with Epic Games have yet to be released so we could see additional changes made to the Play Store. Plus, the US Department of Justice enacted its own antitrust lawsuit against the tech brand back in September of this year.

It's going to be a rough year for Google. Check out TechRadar's list of the 10 best Android apps of 2023.

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Epic Games has admitted that its digital storefront still isn't profitable after launching five years ago.

As The Verge reports, during the first day of the Epic vs. Google court case on November 6, Epic Games Store boss Steve Allison said on the witness stand that the digital PC store isn't profitable despite its debut in December 2018 but said that the company's "goal" is still "growth".

It was reported that emails revealed during the Epic vs. Apple trial in 2021 suggested the company was hoping to claim half of all PC gaming revenue. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney even tweeted at the time that losing over $300 million on the store was a "fantastic success in reaching gamers with great games and a fantastic investment into growing the business!" 

During this same trial, the company also said that the Epic Games Store would start turning a profit in 2023, which we now know hasn't come to fruition.  

Epic Games spends millions to give away free games every single week - which is meant as a fairer profit split between the developers and publisher - and an ongoing campaign that doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, even though the Fortnite company doesn't pay for each copy given away.

The Epic vs. Google case comes after Epic sued Google in 2020 after a fight over in-app purchase fees when it claimed that the Google Play Store constituted an unlawful monopoly.

Epic's scheme of spending too much money to turn a profit has affected its workforce too as it recently laid off around 830 employees - 16% of its workforce - with Sweeney saying that it "concluded that layoffs are the only way."

"For a while now, we've been spending way more money than we earn, investing in the next evolution of Epic and growing Fortnite as a metaverse-inspired ecosystem for creators,” Sweeney wrote in a statement. "I had long been optimistic that we could power through this transition without layoffs, but, in retrospect, I see that this was unrealistic.  

"While Fortnite is starting to grow again, the growth is driven primarily by creator content with significant revenue sharing, and this is a lower margin business than we had when Fortnite Battle Royale took off and began funding our expansion. 

"Success with the creator ecosystem is a great achievement, but it means a major structural change to our economics."

For more, check out our Black Friday video game deals hub for some sweet deals, as well as our picks for the best  Black Friday gaming deals.

The Google Play Store will now let users know if VPN services downloaded on the storefront have agreed to security audits from independent bodies.

VPN apps that have been audited in accordance with Mobile App Security Assessment (MASA) guidelines (the brainchild of the App Defense Alliance (ADA)) will now have a badge next to them that says 'Independent security review' in the Data Safety section.

In a blog post explaining the addition, Google noted there are certain requirements an app must fulfill in order to pass muster with MASA, relating to areas such as data storage and privacy, cryptography, authentication, networking, permissions, and coding.

MASA standards

For an app to be assessed by MASA, though, and thus acquire the new Google badge, only a handful independent cybersecurity firms are accepted as valid auditors, such as Bishop Fox, Dekra, and NowSecure, to name a few. 

VPN providers and other privacy tools accept independent security reviews to instill user trust, letting them know that their online activity will not be logged or their true IP addresses revealed, via flaws or intentionally, as this is what the audits will look out for.

Popular VPNs such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Google One already have the new badge, as they have or will be undergoing MASA security audits in due course. However, some other VPNs have been MASA certified but do not have the 'Independent security review' badge on the Play Store - at least not yet.

Google has a form for developers to complete if they wish for their app to go through with an independent security assessment, as the tech giant looks to improve the safety of its platform, boldly claiming that its "objective is to make Android the safest mobile platform."

The Google Play Store has had its fair share of security concerns recently, with it being home to worrying number of apps that are malicious, either containing malware or invading user privacy.

There have also been reports of many unscrupulous VPN services, often given away for free, that are in fact dangerous to users as well.

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Google is currently working on redesigning its Play Store to better accommodate large-screen devices like the recently released Pixel Tablet.

This update has been in the works for a long time ever since it was first previewed on the big screen at Google I/O 2022. Looking at the announcement post on the Android Developers Blog, the final version looks very similar to last year’s preview. Listing pages will feature a multi-column layout with the information pertaining to an app on the left and recommended software on the right. Games on the platform will have a new video banner at the top where people check out gameplay in action before downloading. 

Stricter rules

Non-gaming software won’t have the banner, but developers can take advantage of the format changes to upload their own “screenshots, videos, and descriptions to display a preview”. Again, this is to help people decide whether or not they want to download the content. 

There are some guidelines third-parties must adhere to. For example, images must show the actual in-app experience “focusing on the core features”.

In addition to changing product layouts, Google is streamlining “store navigation”. Menu items are placed on the left-hand side so it’s easier for people’s thumbs to reach if you’re holding a tablet in landscape mode. Certain sections on the platform like Top Charts will be moved to the Apps and Games Home.

The final visual change is a split-screen search mode, putting search results on one side with the app details on the other. That way, you won’t have to jump back and forth between pages just to get the full picture. It’s all together on one screen.

Further tweaks

There’s more to the update than just looks as the company will be making some adjustments to its Play Store ranking algorithm. Google is going to be pushing third-parties into creating apps that appropriately fit bigger screens. Moving forward, software on the Play Store must have suitable portrait and landscape orientations. If a listing doesn't follow the guidelines, those products will get penalized with reduced visibility in the Play Store plus a warning will be posted telling users this app may not work on their device.

The refresh listing pages, revamped store navigation, as well as the split-screen search “will begin rolling out over the coming weeks”. The Play Store algorithm tweaks will take a bit longer as they'll launch in late August.

These are genuinely great changes. It is good to see Google will enforce stricter standards in maintaining app quality on its online platform. This update comes at an interesting time because we just had the second Galaxy Unpacked where Samsung revealed the ultra-wide Galaxy Z Fold 5. It feels like this foldable phone was made for the Play Store upgrade.

If you’re in the market for a new mobile device with a big screen, check out TechRadar’s list of the best foldable phones for 2023 . 

Google has announced plans to improve the way it verifies developers in an effort to curb malware that is currently rife on the Play Store, and to better control fraud and other suspicious activity.

Currently, Android app developers are required to provide legitimate email addresses and phone numbers to confirm identity, but the company has now announced plans to bring in mandatory D-U-N-S numbers.

At the same time, the Play Store will also undergo a UI tweak which is designed to show users more developer information, to help them make more informed choices.

Developer verification on Google Play

Organizations setting up a new Play Console developer account will now be required to share their unique nine-digit D-U-N-S number, assigned by Dun & Bradstreet, to verify their business. They may also need to share some company documentation for further approval, though Google did not stipulate in which circumstances this would be necessary.

Google did not immediately respond to TechRadar Pro’s request to comment on other account types beyond organizations, and whether they face any additional verification processes.

For end users, the ‘Contact details’ section in an app listing is set to be renamed ‘App support.’ Within this subheading, an ‘About the developer’ section will show certain verified identity information like name, address, and contact details.

New developer registrations will be subject to these changes from August 31, giving any malintent developers around six weeks to publish dodgy apps before they get subjected to more stringent rules.

Google says it will share more information with existing developer organizations in October, but it’s unclear how long they will have to provide a D-U-N-S number. Because getting one can take up to 30 days, sensible developers who don’t yet have their unique number should consider looking to register now to avoid penalties later on.

• Think you’re a victim of an attack? Consider using the best identity theft protection services

The Google Play Store is an essential part of the experience served up by the best Android phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S23, Google Pixel 7, and OnePlus 11. Google offers a wide selection of apps and content, all managed through the Play Store, making it easy to love.

These days, most content requires a subscription. However, there are some limitations. You can only cancel subscriptions that were subscribed to through the Play Store to begin with, not the ones you simply use on your Android phone but initiated elsewhere. For example, if you're listening to Spotify on your Android phone without paying for it through the Play Store to begin with, you won't be able to cancel it that way. However, as another example, if you signed up for Disney Plus through the Play Store, you can manage your subscription there.

Steps for cancelling subscriptions through the Google Play Store

•  Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile icon to navigate to payments & subscriptions. 
•  In the payments & subscriptions submenu, head to subscriptions. 
•  Find and tap on the subscription you want to cancel and then tap cancel subscription on the subsequent screen.

Tools and Requirements

•  Your Android phone 
•  The Google Play Store
• Your hands (ideally) 

Step by step guide for how to cancel subscriptions on you Andriod phone

Why use the Google Play Store to manage subscriptions in the first place?

Using the Google Play Store to handle your subscriptions offers several benefits. It provides an all-in-one interface for managing various subscriptions, showing you what's due and when. You can also manage the payment schedule conveniently. For those with carrier billing, it means making a single payment at the end of the month, rather than several small payments.

Though subscriptions like Netflix and Spotify aren't found on the Play Store, there's a wide range of apps and services available, including popular ones like Duolingo, Disney Plus, Dropout and even gacha games.

 If you have an iPhone, learn how to cancel subscriptions on your iPhone here. 

Indian cybersecurity company CloudSEK has revealed what is describes as the “concerning discovery of widespread malware infection” in the Google Play Store affecting millions of Android users across the globe.

In a press release, the company announced the identification of 193 applications on the Play Store that are infected with the Android.Spy.SpinOk SDK, 43 of which are still at large on the Android app store.

CloudSEK reckons that these have amassed more than five million downloads. The security firm also estimates that 30 million users in total have been affected by the bad apps it has found. These are in addition to other similar apps previously identified by DrWeb.

Android apps affected with malware

Topping the list of the affected apps with the most installs is HexaPop Link 2248, followed by Macaron Match, Macaron Boom, Jelly Connect, Tiler Master, Crazy Magic Ball, Bitcoin Master, Happy 2048, and Mega Win Slots. Of these apps, three are developed by CM Studio and two by Zhinuo Technology Co., Ltd.

The majority of the apps, according to the report, belong to the casual gaming category, which are often downloaded and used briefly before being left to reside on a user’s device indefinitely.

Credited with initially sounding the alarm about apps infected with the malicious SDK, DrWeb explains it has the ability to collect information on local Android files which is then transferred to the threat actors. Users’ clipboards are also affected, potentially exposing passwords and other sensitive information.

CloudSEK is advising Android users to download protective measures like antivirus software from trusted providers to monitor and flag potential threats. Of a similar nature, smartphone users are being urged to maintain vigilance when browsing their device’s app store, and to look out for potential red flags.

A Google spokesperson told TechRadar Pro: "The safety of users and developers is at the core of Google Play. We have reviewed recent reports on SpinOK SDK and are taking appropriate action on apps that violate our policies. Users are also protected by Google Play Protect, which warns users of apps known to exhibit malicious behavior on Android devices with Google Play Services, even when those apps come from other sources."

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The Play Store on your Android phone is set to get a big privacy update, with Google announcing that it will soon force developers into letting you delete an account you create with their apps, as well as any personal data the app might retain.

Right now, even if you delete an app from your phone the developer might still be holding onto some of your personal data – such as your email and any other information you entered to create an account within the app. Starting in early 2024 that’s set to change, with Google unveiling a new policy that will make Play Store app developers give you a clear way to clean up any data they have from you.

At a minimum, all developers will be forced to give you an easy way to delete your account and all associated data within the app, and also through a non-in-app method – such as a web browser. The latter option will ensure you won’t need to waste time reinstalling apps you’ve long since deleted just to wrestle back control of your private info.

Developers will also have the option to give you choice over what data is deleted. Perhaps you don’t want to delete your whole account just your activity history, or just delete the images and videos you’ve uploaded to it – though not every app creator will offer this service.

Lastly, it's worth noting that Google’s policy won’t guarantee that all of your data is deleted when you ask it to be. There’s a clause that allows developers to retain some limited data for “legitimate reasons” including security, fraud protection, and regulatory compliance – though, any app that keeps data this way will be required to clearly outline its practices.

Developers will have until December 7, 2022 to submit answers to new questions in a Data Safety form, with App Store changes set to go live later at some point in early 2024. 

However, app creators can file for an extension to give themselves more time to comply with the changes – with the extension lasting until May 31, 2024. So it might still be a while yet before you completely regain control over the data apps store about you. 

Playing catch-up with App Store Privacy 

A policy like this is nothing new in the mobile app world – Google is actually lagging a fair way behind Apple in this regard. Any app published on the Apple App Store has had to let you delete your account since June 30th, 2022.

Google’s policy will introduce an extra benefit though, making it a slightly better version of Apple’s policy. Apple doesn’t mandate those apps give you a web-based way to delete your account and data – only that there has to be an in-app way to remove it if you can create an account in-app.

Other than this, however, both policies seem equally robust and are a great privacy feature that’s sure to benefit the security conscious amongst us. Just note that if you delete your account – at least in App Store apps – developers aren’t required to automatically suspend any auto-renewing billing you've set up through Apple. The app should warn you about this, but it’s worth canceling your subscription before you delete the account just to be safe and to avoid paying for a service you can’t access.

Looking for more ways to keep your data private? Check out our picks for the best VPN services, helpful tools that can help keep your personal info hidden from online apps and sites.

Google has suspended Chinese ecommerce giant Pinduoduo from its Play Store amid security concerns.

The Android maker is urging customers to uninstall the app from their devices, including any installs made from third-party app stores and other downloads.

Bloomberg states that it’s unclear whether other local app stores including those by Huawei, Xiaomi, and Tencent, have made any action against Pinduoduo and parent company PDD Holdings, given that the Google Play Store is not available in the country.

Pinduoduo blocked

Pinduoduo allows customers to buy fresh produce from farmers in a country whose citizens are increasingly conscious of food quality. The app has since gone on to amass more active users than Alibaba in China.

A Google spokesperson explained: “The Off-Play versions of the e-commerce app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect,” a service on by default that’s designed to check for potentially harmful apps from the Google Play Store and other sources, which forms part of a larger protective layer that can be enabled with the best privacy apps.

HardenedVault CEO Shawn Chang explained that previous versions of the app’s code found on GitHub show malware present. The app appears to use n-day and zero-day exploits to target Android parcel serialization/deserialization, in turn gaining system privileges.

A Pinduoduo spokesperson told TechRadar Pro: 

"We strongly reject the speculation and accusation that Pinduoduo app is malicious just from a generic and non-conclusive response from Google. Google Play has informed us this morning that Pinduoduo APP, among several other apps, has been temporarily suspended as the current version is not compliant with Google’s Policy, but has not shared more details. We are communicating with Google for more information. We have been told that there are several other apps that have been suspended as well."

PDD Holdings also operates Temu in North America, an online marketplace app whose consumers primarily receive products direct from China.

This comes at a time when western governments are increasingly less trusting in Chinese companies, with many official bodies banning apps like TikTok from company- and state-owned devices amid cybersecurity fears.

A new cybersecurity strategy announced earlier this month named China and Russia as the two largest threats to the US.

• Check out our list of the best VPN services to keep you safe

Microsoft-owned Xbox could be bringing its own app store to your Android and Apple phone according to the company’s gaming chief, Phil Spencer. If it does, we could see some of our favorite apps and games get cheaper on mobile.

Microsoft currently offers a few mobile gaming experiences, such as Minecraft and Xbox Game Pass streaming, but its new efforts could see you turning to its own store rather than the iPhone’s App Store or the Android Google Play Store.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Phil Spencer said “We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen.” This means it’ll need to continue its console and PC gaming efforts, but also expand its mobile efforts.

However, Xbox’s mobile game store launch isn’t yet guaranteed. Spencer explained that the launch can only happen if two things happen first.

For starters, Microsoft needs to complete its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The takeover – which was announced over a year ago on January 18, 2022 – hasn’t yet been finalized as regulatory bodies across the globe are still investigating if it would give Microsoft too much of an advantage over rivals such as Sony. Alongside Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4, Activision Blizzard owns a slew of mobile games (including Candy Crush, Hearthstone, and Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!) which the Xbox Game Store would need to rely on to fill out its catalog.

Additionally, the Xbox app store would rely on the enforcement of the EU's Digital Markets Act and other regulations. These new rules – which were passed in December 2022 but won’t be enforced until March 2024 – should force Apple to open up its iPhone platforms to alternative app stores. However, Apple looks set to only make changes in Europe where the rules apply.

App Store, Xbox game store, what’s the difference?

Does it really matter where you get your mobile games and apps from? Is there going to be that big a difference between Apple's App Store and Microsoft’s Xbox store? We don’t know for certain, but an Xbox store launch could result in cheaper prices and more apps.

Apple and Google currently take a cut of the revenue made by apps on their mobile stores – 15% for smaller developers and 30% for larger ones. However, if Microsoft was releasing its own apps on its own store it wouldn’t need to take a cut as it would make 100% of the revenue, so it could lower prices for the same services.

As these games would potentially be more profitable – as Microsoft wouldn’t have to share the revenue with anyone – we could also see it launch more new games and apps that are exclusive to its platform. Microsoft would have a large library of properties to work with (from Halo, to Call of Duty, to Spyro, to Fallout, as well as its Microsoft 365 productivity apps) so it could very likely find something to spin out for its new store.

There's another potential benefit. At the moment, if you buy games from the Apple App Store for your iPhone, and then decide to switch to an Android phone later, then you'd have to re-buy your apps and games from the Google Play Store. This, of course, happens if you go from Android to iPhone. However, if the Microsoft app store is cross platform, it may mean you'd only have to buy them once. 

We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but if Microsoft launches its own Xbox store on mobile don’t be surprised if others like Epic Games and Spotify – vocal opponents to the App Store’s 30% revenue cut – look to do the same.

Don't want to wait for Xbox to launch its own app store? Here are the best iPhone games and best iPhone apps you can download today.

Apple has blocked an update to email client BlueMail, which added the ChatGPT chatbot into its software, requiring the developer first insert content filtering or age restrictions before it can be released.

This is Apple's policy for apps that produce some form of AI generated content. Apple's App Review division told Blix that as AI could produce content that may be unsuitable for younger audiences, one of the two above provisions must be applied before release. 

However, Ben Volach, co-founder of BlueMail developer Blix Inc., disputed Apple's ruling, arguing that BlueMail already has content filtering, and that other apps on the App Store with similar AI capabilities do not have age restrictions in place. 

'Unfairly targeted'

The new AI feature in BlueMail integrates OpenAI's ever popular ChatGPT chatbot into the email client, letting users automate the writing of emails. It makes use of previous emails and events in your calendar to make sure its content is appropriate.

“Apple is making it really hard for us to bring innovation to our users,” said Volach. According to the WSJ, a spokesperson told them that the App Review Board is currently investigating the complaint made by Blix.

Volach also claims that a test version of the updated version of the app was reviewed every day for a week before it was rejected by Apple. However, the Android version of the upgraded app was allowed on the Google Play Store with no age restrictions or content filtering imposed. 

He believes that BlueMail is being unfairly targeted by Apple, and that age restrictions would impact their ability to distribute the app to new users. 

Apple seems more concerned about the risks of AI than other big tech companies. It has been conspicuously absent from the current arms race between Microsoft - a large backer of OpenAI who have recently inserted its chatbot models into its search engine Bing - and Google, with its new rival chatbot Bard and its supposedly incredibly powerful LamDA AI. 

It's perhaps only a matter of time before it joins in - in an earnings call last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that AI is a "major focus of ours" - but for now, it seems to be keeping a watchful eye on the AI on iOS apps. 

Bing's new smartphone app with AI integration is restricted to 17+ on the iphone, whereas there are no restrictions for the Android version on the Google Play Store. Although a Microsoft spokesperson told the WSJ that has always been the case due to its ability as a standard web browser to show adult content. 

“We want fairness,” said Volach. “If we’re required to be 17-plus, then others should also have to.”

• Here's out list of the best free iPhone apps

The Google Play Store has been home to a growing number of suspicious activities in recent months, new research has found.

A study by Dr.Web found a large number of fake apps and trojans designed to subscribe victims to paid services, as well as an alarming rate of spyware.

The report details the increasing number of apps that have been added to the company’s antivirus database, illustrating the caution that Android users should take when browsing the Play Store.

Android apps with rewards

Among the most significant types of dodgy Android apps in recent months is a rewards-based setup.

Dr.Web says that users are incentivized to complete various tasks, like installing, launching, and using other programs and games to receive a ‘virtual reward’. These tokens can then supposedly be cashed in for real money or credit. 

To be able to access rewards of true monetary value, users have been needing to collect “millions” of rewards, and that’s before spending a lot of time, effort, and other resources trying to gain access to any tokens. 

Among the most noteworthy apps highlighted by the report is ‘Lucky Step-Walking Tracker’, totalling more than 10 million downloads with an average of 4.2 stars across 643,000 reviews.

Also mentioned are ‘Lucky Habit: health tracker’ (5 million downloads, 193,000 reviews at 3.6 stars), and ‘WalkingJoy’ (5 million downloads, 227,000 reviews at 3.9 stars). None of these apps explicitly detail in their respective Play Store descriptions that they offer financial incentives to users for completing tasks, though they were found to reward users for reaching certain milestones (like following healthy habits or walking a certain amount of steps) and for watching ads, some of which promising to speed up the token unlocking process.

‘Lucky Step-Walking Tracker’ has since removed the functionality, rendering rewards virtually pointless. Moreover, all three apps were found to share the same server, indicating a common developer, thus rewards may be pulled for the other two at any point.

Dr.Web recommends that Android users install its Android antivirus protection, though a more general rule of thumb indicates that users should remain savvy when browsing online marketplaces.

• Check out the best endpoint protection software and best firewalls

An update to the Google Play Store, in which ads will appear when you open the search bar, is reportedly in testing.

9To5Google has found that the company is considering replacing recent history with ads. The change has been spotted on a device running version 33.0.17-21 of the Play Store.

The current default behavior of the search function for most users is that when activated, the four most recent searches appear as suggestions in the Android apps space. 

Play Store ads

For many Android phone users, browsing the Play Store for new apps doesn’t form part of their habits - instead they head straight for the search bar to look for a specific app in mind. 

It could be that Google has noticed this, and is trialing a new change that could see ad exposure increase significantly.

Also, search history may not be particularly useful for a lot of users, so it would make sense from Google's perspective to replace it with something more financially beneficial to the company.

The rollout could be part of the latest update to the Play Store - version 33.0.17-21 - which includes a section on “New Features to help you discover the Apps & Games you love”.

Google isn’t the only company changing the way ads work in its app store: Apple’s App Store has recently undergone some updates too. Ads are now being shown in the ‘Today’ tab of the App Store along with suggestions within each app’s listing, which are made evident by an ‘Ad’ icon with a blue background.

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Google is expanding its User Choice Billing (UCB) pilot program with Spotify among the first participants. It's now officially allowing the music platform's customers to set up service payments outside Google's Play Store.

Back in March, Google teamed up with Spotify to launch the program by giving people the ability to use different payment options. UCB was first available to users in Japan, Australia, and several European countries. Now it’s coming to the United States, Brazil, and South Africa after Google got a “positive response and [feedback]” from the first round. In the coming weeks, Spotify will roll out the third-party payment option to Android users only, so they can choose how they want to pay for a Premium subscription.

Open and fair platform

After it rolls out, people who want to subscribe to Spotify Premium will see another option to use the platform’s own service instead. The main difference so far is you can't track your subscription on Spotify's billing service, whereas you can with Google. Other than that, it’s business as usual: you enter your credit card information to pay and you’re done. 

Google is currently allowing other non-gaming apps on the Play Store to enroll in the UCB pilot program. Developers do have to follow certain UX guidelines created by Google that detail how to implement the feature. Looking at the guidelines, developers must include an information and billing choice page whenever a user is trying to purchase a service. The displayed price must also be upfront and center.

The full list of UCB participants is unknown, but we do know that the dating app Bumble will soon join the program “in select countries [within] the coming months.” 

Spotify says it champions UCB because it sees the program as “Google [allowing] more choice and competition” on the Play Store. The company wants more platform fairness for apps to thrive and “give users of [the free service] the ability to subscribe and make purchases directly [on the] app.”

We asked Google what it hopes to achieve with UCB for users specifically, plus why gaming apps are currently excluded from the program. This story will be updated if we hear back.

The future of app stores

As for Apple and its popular App Store, we strongly doubt users will see anything remotely resembling UCB. Apple has made it abundantly clear it does not like third-party payment options on the App Store. It recently forced Telegram to crack down on iOS users creating paid posts because the tech giant wasn’t getting a cut. And then there’s Apple’s 2021 court battle with Epic Games after Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store because of similar actions.

Change, though, may be inevitable. The Open Markets Act is a proposed antitrust bill aimed at stopping both Google and Apple “from engaging in harmful behaviors towards their competitors.” Google appears to be more than willing to play nicer, but it remains to be seen if and when Apple will decide to do the same.

Almost a hundred apps across the Android and iOS ecosystems have been discovered engaging in advertising fraud, researchers have claimed.

The apps, 80 of which were built for Android, and nine for iOS, have more than 13 million downloads between them, and include games, screensavers, camera apps, and more - some with more than a million downloads. 

Research from cybersecurity firm HUMAN Security found that by targeting advertising software development kits (SDK), the unknown threat actors were able to compromise these apps for their own personal benefit, in multiple ways: by pretending to be apps they’re not; by rendering ads in places where users wouldn’t be able to see them; and by faking clicks and taps (keeping track of real ad interactions and faking them later).

Evolution of Poseidon

The campaign, which HUMAN dubbed Scylla, is still ongoing, meaning at least some of the apps are still up and running. “These tactics, combined with the obfuscation techniques first observed in the Charybdis operation, demonstrate the increased sophistication of the threat actors behind Scylla,” the researchers say. 

The Charybdis operation the researchers mention is an older campaign, out of which Scylla evolved. Charybdis itself evolved from an even older campaign, called Poseidon, leading the researchers to conclude that the threat actors are actively developing these apps and that new variants are bound to appear. 

HUMAN says it “worked closely” with both Google and Apple to have all of the identified malicious apps removed from the respective app repositories. 

However, that doesn’t mean the threat is completely gone - users who have downloaded these apps in the meantime are still vulnerable, and will remain so until they remove them from their endpoints. 

The company urges users to go through the entire list of apps found here and make sure they remove any apps they might have installed.

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Google has kicked off a pilot program that will broaden the range of payment methods supported by Play Store, the official Android application marketplace.

As explained in the support documentation, the trial will allow Android developers in the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Indonesia, India and Japan to implement billing systems that are not owned and operated by Google.

The pilot will cover in-app purchases and subscription sign-ups, as well as browser pop-up payments, but for an undisclosed reason will not extend to mobile games applications at this time.

Google Play Store commission

The new Play Store trial can be seen as a product of recent pressure applied to the likes of Google and Apple, which enjoy a stranglehold over the mobile applications ecosystem, by stakeholders and regulators calling for reform.

Infamously, Apple is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Epic Games, the maker of popular video game Fortnite. The company attempted to bypass the 30% commission in the summer of 2020 by launching its own in-app payment mechanism, which saw Fortnite promptly removed from the App Store. Although the judge ruled largely in favor of Apple in the first part of the case, Epic has appealed the ruling and the dispute rages on.

Legislation passed in the US state of Arizona last year, meanwhile, sought to stop Google and Apple forcing developers to use a single payment system exclusively, and penalizing those that opt for an alternative system.

Although the rules protected Arizona-based developers and residents only, they set a precedent that could give impetus to similar measures in other states and countries.

The Play Store alternative payments trial could be interpreted as an attempt to get out ahead of any new legislation that might prove even more stringent than the voluntary concessions made under the pilot scheme.

While the trial will minimize the extent to which Google can leverage market position to its economic advantage, it may not wholly satisfy developers who believe the company demands too great a cut of app-related purchases.

Although Google reduced its commission from 30% to 15% last year, under the pilot, the firm will continue to take a 4% service fee for all purchases made via alternative methods. For its part, Google argues its fees have never represented simply the cost of processing transactions, but reflect the broader value provided by the Android platform. 

A similar line of argument was pursued by Apple last year, as the company campaigned against new regulation in Arizona.

“The commission has been described by some special interests as a ‘payment processing fee’, as if Apple is just swiping a credit card. That’s terribly misleading,” said Kyle Andeer, Chief Compliance Officer at Apple.

“Apple provides developers an enormous amount of value - both the store to distribute their apps around the world and the studio to create them. This is what the commission reflects.”

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One of the most popular best free PDF reader apps on the Google Play Store is actually just a vehicle to deliver potentially harmful adware, experts have warned.

An investigation by Malwarebytes found that the imaginatively-named "PDF reader - documents viewer" app did nothing of the sort, but instead flooded user devices with annoying full screen adverts, even when not in use.

The company warns that the app has already had over a million downloads, and Google has yet to remove it, meaning even more victims could be hooked soon.

Pain-DF reader

In a blog post outlining the scam, Malwarebytes notes how the app looks to trick users by not displaying ads immediately after being installed.

Instead, it waits a few hours, making it harder to spot which app has caused the issue. When activated, however, the app fills the user's home screen with full-page adverts, blocking them from accessing their device unless they click on the ad.

Video ads are also displayed, effectively preventing the user from accessing their device, with ads launching more and more frequently the longer the app is left unchecked.

Malwarebytes notes that the initial Google Play app listing page raised a few red flags that may have tipped users off that this was not a legitimate service. This includes a "Mature 17+" content rating - pretty unusual for almost any of the best PDF readers for Android that we've tested, and the developer name of "Fairy games" - again, not something you would typically associate with such a service.

"If you have a lot of apps installed on your mobile device, this one can very hard to track down," Malwarebytes noted. "Another reason to not blindly trust you are safe while installing exclusively from Google Play. Even if the Play Store is by far the safest place to install apps on Android, it can fault from time to time as well. Having an anti-malware scanner, or anti-adware in this case, is a good idea. Stay safe out there!"

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A new day is coming for your Android apps. Google is implementing new Play Store rules for developers as it attempts to stamp out intrusive ads, impersonators, and VPNService misuse.

The big changes will roll out incrementally with the first rule going into effect on August 31 and will be complete on July 31, 2023.  Reading through the rules, it appears that some developers on the Play Store were getting away with uncouth practices, but Google is giving them ample time to clean up their act.  The Play Store is also clarifying the language on several policies as it cracks down on misinformation.

New rules

Starting August 31, apps will no longer be able to impersonate another developer/company nor can an app falsely imply that it's related to something else. Google gives the example of the RSS News Aggregator app created by Google Developer. This is an impersonator because first-party apps on the Play Store are listed under Google LLC. The developers were trying to use Google's name to sell their product. 

Google also points to the YouTube Aggregator app using the official YouTube logo. This gives a false impression that YouTube Aggregator is an official app when it isn’t. Truth be told, it’s surprising that this file advertisement rule wasn’t implemented long ago, but better late than never.

Effective September 30, “full-screen interstitial ads” can no longer appear randomly. Ads will still be allowed; they just can’t pop up in the middle of a game or as you’re scrolling through a product description. And whenever full-screen ads do appear, they must be closeable after 15 seconds. Speaking from personal experience, this is a great change because nothing kills a game faster than an annoying 30-second ad that you can’t skip. Also on September 30, apps must make it clear how to manage or cancel a subscription service. Developers will no longer be able to hide the cancellation process in a labyrinth of menus.

VPN clarity

Google is also tightening the rules on apps that use a VPN (virtual private network) as its core function. Apparently, developers were misusing Google’s VPNService to collect user data or manipulate traffic via ads. Starting November 1, VPNService can only be used for, among other things, parental control, web browsing, and device security apps.

And on July 31, 2023, Google will be restricting the Exact Alarm Permission so it can only be used on alarm and calendar apps. According to Mishaal Rahman, Senior Technical Editor for Esper, this restriction will also improve battery life. He explains that if too many apps schedule alarms at different times, it can quickly drain the phone's battery. By prioritizing apps where the main function is to be an alarm, it will solve this conflict.

Effective immediately

Google has also updated many different policies to combat misinformation and make sure things stay appropriate for an app's userbase. There are so many changes, in fact, that we can't cover everything, so here are some of the more important ones.

Descriptions, screenshots, and titles must accurately reflect what the app does. For example, developers won’t be able to promote their puzzle game app with action-oriented images to make it seem more exciting. Ads now need to be appropriate to the app’s rating. Ads for a mature app can’t be placed into a video game rated for teenagers. Harmful medical misinformation will be more strictly enforced, as well. This includes misleading vaccine claims and the selling of prescription drugs without a prescription.

Again, it’s surprising these changes weren’t implemented earlier but cleaning up the Play Store is always a win in our books.

While we’re on the topic of the Google Play Store, the platform just hit its 10th anniversary recently and TechRadar’s Philip Berne made a list of the 10 apps that he stuck with all these years.

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Google is changing its mind and reversing a recent decision to hide the app permissions list on product listings in its Play Store.

The official Android Developers Twitter account tweeted the team heard the public outcry and is going to reinstate the permissions list. The tweet goes on to say “privacy and transparency are core values in the Android community” and so they want to uphold that. Users will be able to cross-reference what’s on the Data Safety section to Google’s permissions list and ensure app developers are being honest about the data they collect.

The tweet also states the “app permissions section will be back shortly.” Looking through the Google Play Store, the app permissions list wasn’t back at the time of this writing. We reached out to Google to see if it could give a more concrete date or launch window. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

Original outcry

The original story was Google rolled out a new Play Store feature called Data Safety that required developers to disclose what data they were collecting and if it was being shared with third parties, among other things. It sounded great on paper until Google decided to remove the app permissions list.

People could use the permissions list to fact-check the developers' claims and get a better understanding of what developers do with user information. But with the list gone, you couldn't verify developer assertions. Instead of creating a more transparent environment, Google made it murkier.

The Data Safety section essentially runs on the honor system. Looking through Google’s Data Safety page on its support website, Google states developers “are responsible for making complete and accurate declarations in [their] app’s store listing on Google Play.” It adds that while Google reviews apps, it “cannot make determinations on behalf of the developers of how they handle user data.” Basically, it won’t tell the developers what to do.

The problem with an honor system is that developers are under no obligation to be honest with customers. Why be honest if they don't have to? Developers could have potentially harvested all the sensitive data they wanted and users would have been none the wiser. The permission list's reinstatement should ease some concerns. People are better informed, Google looks good, and apps are more trusted.

Analysis: Understandable fear

The negative reaction from the community isn’t unwarranted. Data collecting is a consequence of living in a tech-saturated world. Collecting this information is important for developers to make their apps better, but many users are understandably fearful of losing control of their data. 2022 has had its fair share of big data breaches from the attack on Microsoft back in March or the Cash App breach in April. 

Google has called for increasing security across the tech industry, but occasionally its actions are at cross-purposes with these privacy and security aspirations. And sometimes, in an effort to simplify its systems, it loses sight of the larger goals. It's nice to see, however, how quickly it can course-correct.

If you’re interested in fostering privacy, check out our list of the best privacy tools, both free and paid. 

Google is set to reinstate a recently-removed feature to its Android app marketplace in response to concerns voiced by the community.

As per a series of tweets published to the official Android developer account, an imminent Play Store update will see the return of the app permissions section, which catalogues the level of access demanded by each application.

“Privacy and transparency are core values in the Android community,” the thread states. “We heard your feedback that you find the app permissions section in Google Play useful, and we’ve decided to reinstate it. The app permissions section will be back shortly.”

Google Play Store changes

The initial removal of the app permissions section coincided with the full launch of a new listing item called data safety, which is comparable in style to the privacy labels system on Apple’s App Store.

The data safety section is designed to give users an easily digestible snapshot of the kinds of information an application collects; whether that’s location data, browsing history, personally identifiable information (PII) or whatever else.

The problem, as some commentators have pointed out, is that this information is supplied exclusively by the developers, meaning it could be possible to mislead users as to the level of access granted to their application.

To head off these concerns, Google will now implement a system whereby the data safety menu co-exists with the app permissions section on the Play Store, despite the tax on usability this might incur.

“The data safety section provides users with a simplified view of how an app collects, shares and secures user data,” the company explained, in the same Twitter thread. 

“But we also want to make app permissions information easily viewable for users to understand an app’s ability to access specific restricted data and actions too.”

Google has also previously warned that it will punish any developers found to have misrepresented the way their Android applications collect and utilize user data and taken action to that effect on multiple occasions.

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Via Android Police

Android apps often collect all sorts of data about you and your device, like name and location, as well as sometimes having access to your photos or messages, among other things. So, it’s vital that you understand what degree of access an app is going to have before downloading it, something that's now been made that much harder to understand.

That’s because Google recently rolled out a new feature called 'Data safety', which requires app developers to disclose the data that their apps collect, whether the data is being shared with third-parties, and the app’s security practices. That sounds like a promising step, and if this was just an addition it would be, but Google is also quietly removing the app permissions list from store listings.

This change wasn’t announced by the company but has been spotted by Mishaal Rahman (senior technical editor at Esper).

That app permissions list was automatically generated by Google, which although accurate, wasn’t always clear about why specific permissions were needed or data was collected.

This new Data safety screen should, in many cases, be a lot clearer, since app developers can explain why they need various kinds of data, but because it’s down to those developers to fill in, there’s also a risk that the information could be incomplete or inaccurate.

Having both the Data safety and permissions screens would be more comprehensive, but could also make for a cluttered and confusing listing, so we can see why Google might choose only to show one; it's just unclear whether this was the right call.

In most cases, this probably won’t be too much of a problem, although unscrupulous app developers will now have more freedom to hide the data collection practices of their apps, which is a definite worry.

Google has warned that if the Data safety screen isn’t complete and accurate then apps could have their updates blocked or even be removed from the Play Store, but it’s not clear how quickly or comprehensively Google will spot and take action against offenders.

Analysis: Google’s not alone in leaving it up to developers

While this is a troubling move, it’s similar to something Apple is already doing, with its privacy ‘nutrition labels’, which app developers are required to complete. The Washington Post , however, found that these labels too were often inaccurate, so there’s no reason to think Google’s alternative won’t suffer the same fate.

The one advantage Android users have over iOS users in this situation is that they’re not limited to the Google Play Store, and while generally that’s considered the safest place to get apps, Rahman points out that third-party app stores like the Aurora Store still shows the app permissions list – something which it’s able to do because Google still collects this data behind the scenes.

As such, if you’re worried about this change then sourcing an alternative app store offering the insights and assurances you need might be worth looking into. Of course, most Android users probably won’t know this is an option and will take the data shown on the Google Play Store listings at face value - which may no longer be fully accurate and complete, even among the best Android apps.

Banking apps for the Android ecosystem have more than a billion downloads between them, and according to a new report from the mobile security platform Zimperium, all of these at risk from dangerous trojans.

The company analyzed more than 600 financial apps and 10 prolific banking trojan families targeting these apps, finding that the most targeted mobile banking application is the Spanish “BBVA Spain | Online Banking” app which has more than 10 million downloads. 

Apparently, of the 10 most prolific trojan malware out there, six are targeting this app.

Mobile banking and crypto

In the United States, 121 financial apps, with more than 280 million downloads between them, are being targeted. The United Kingdom and Italy are the next most-targeted countries, it was said, with 55 and 43 apps targeted, respectively.

The report has also found that crooks aren’t that interested in “traditional” banking apps, as they prefer more modern technological solutions. That being said, apps that focus on mobile payments, or cryptocurrencies, are hugely popular. In fact, the top three mobile financial apps targeted by this type of malware manage alternative assets.

Teapot is the most active banking trojan of all, used against 410 applications, out of the 600 analyzed, while ExobotCompact.D, also known as Octo, was the oldest one, as it was originally discovered five years ago. 

“Not every trojan targeting mobile and banking apps is created equal – they’re disseminated differently, use different exploitation techniques, and vary in other degrees of reach and sophistication,” said Nico Chiaraviglio, VP of Security Research at Zimperium. “We’ve seen ad hoc reports of different banking trojans over the past few years, and anecdotally, people may have recognized that they’re increasing in scope and frequency.” 

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The introduction of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) back in 2018 may have had a detrimental effect on the number of new apps available for Android smartphones according to a new research paper.

In the paper, titled “GDPR and the Lost Generation of Innovative Apps”, economic researchers from several universities in the EU, UK and US examined the impact of GDPR on the mobile app business.

To compile their paper, the researchers looked at 4.1m apps in the Google Play Store between July 2016 and October 2019 to find that the privacy benefits of GDPR were accompanied by “substantial costs to consumers, from a diminished choice set, and to producers from depressed revenue and increased costs”.

While consumers allegedly had less choices when it came to apps, the apps that were available on the Play Store and Apple's App Store saw their revenue increase as total revenue on both platforms grew from $43.6bn in 2016 to $83.6bn in 2019 according to The Register.

Transformed by GDPR

Once GDPR went into effect in May of 2018, app developers had to comply with rules that required consent for data gathering, transparent data processing, purpose limitation, accuracy, limited retention, confidentiality and accountability in order to distribute their apps in the EU.

The researchers’ paper, which is distributed through the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research and will soon be submitted for journal publication, found that the Android app market was transformed as a result of GDPR.

At the same time that the number of Android apps fell by about a third following the implementation of GDPR, fewer new apps were created (47.2% less) and usage of the apps that remained on the Play Store fell by 45.3 percent. While this was happening, the average users per app increased by around a quarter (25%) as end users migrated away from low quality apps and towards those that were of a higher caliber.

Still though, an argument can be made that GDPR worked as intended since low quality apps that didn’t respect the data of their users disappeared from the Play Store. Consumers instead turned to apps with the necessary resources to safeguard their data while complying with GDPR.

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Via The Register

There are currently more outdated apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store than ones that are frequently updated according to a new study.

The study from the analytics firm Pixalate, titled The Abandoned Mobile Apps Report, shows that Apple’s recent announcement that it will soon begin deleting apps that haven’t been updated in quite a while makes a great deal of sense despite the fact that it wasn’t well received by developers.

To compile its report, Pixalate crawled through both the App Store and Play Store looking for what it has deemed abandoned apps or those that have gone two or more years without being updated. The analytics firm found over 1.5m abandoned apps among the more than five million apps it examined.

While both mobile app stores are filled with abandoned apps, Pixalate only found 1.3m recently updated apps that had been updated in the past six months.

Removing outdated apps

Although outdated apps pose a significant security risk to end users, there’s no need to worry as both Apple and Google have plans to take action on the issue.

For instance, Apple recently updated its App Store policy to classify apps that have gone three years without updates as abandoned. The iPhone maker has said that it will begin removing them along with apps that have failed to reach a certain number of downloads over the past year.

Once Apple flags an app as outdated, its developers will have 90 days to make changes to the app in question before it’s removed from the App Store. However, outdated apps will only be removed from the company’s store and not from users’ devices.

Meanwhile, Google announced back in April that it would begin removing outdated Android apps at the end of this year. Unlike Apple though, the search giant will hide app pages and block installations on Android smartphones running a version of the mobile operating system that is higher or outside two years of the app’s target API level.

If you’re an app developer that hasn’t updated your apps in a while, now would be the time to do so before they’re removed from the App Store or Play Store.

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Via The Register

The Google Play Store is reportedly littered with trojans and malware-infected apps that are stealing sensitive information, and money, from unsuspecting victims.

Cybersecurity researchers from Dr. Web recently analyzed the state of the mobile app store, and found that the number of trojanized apps (seemingly legitimate applications, carrying trojans either directly within code, or by means of “updates” or “addons”) is “spiking”.

In most cases, the compromised apps are either cryptocurrency wallets and management apps, investment app clones, or photo editors. While Google managed to remove most of the apps from the store already, some persisted, with one of the apps from the list - Top Navigation - still available on the Play Store at press time.

That app, together with another one from the same developer - called Advice Photo Power, have been downloaded more than 600,000 times, although the users don’t seem to be all too pleased with the apps, judging by the comments.

Squeezing past Google's defenses

When they’re not stealing sensitive data, these apps will load affiliate service sites, or trick people into enabling paid subscriptions.

But squeezing a malicious app into Google Play Store - and keeping it there - is a difficult task. That’s why threat actors also use other online communities, such as websites, forums, or social media channels, to distribute the apps. 

Dr. Web’s report says that one of the most significant threats this year - various WhatsApp mods - were distributed just like that. These mods include GBWhatsApp, OBWhatsApp, or WhatsApp Plus, which claim to offer support for additional languages, home screen widgets, call blocking, or other features that aren’t available in the actual app. 

Once installed, some of these apps will even download additional malicious APKs, claiming that they’re downloading an update.

To keep the Android device safe from various threats, users should stay away from downloading apps from third-party sources, make sure to always read comments and reviews before downloading an app from the Play Store, to pay attention to the permissions each new app is asking for, watch for any unexpected battery drain, and to monitor all of the online purchases made by various mobile apps, researchers have warned.

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Via: BleepingComputer

Google's Area 120 incubator has launched a new privacy platform called Checks which uses AI to identify potential privacy and compliance issues with mobile apps.

As the privacy and compliance landscape continues to evolve, developers are often left at a loss when it comes to ensuring their mobile apps remain compliant on both Android and iOS. For this reason, Google's Area 120 has created a solution that simplifies privacy for developers distributing their apps on the Play Store and App Store.

According to a new blog post, the Checks team has spent the past two years listening to feedback from hundreds of mobile app developers on their approach to privacy and working together with early adopters to refine its platform and roadmap. By providing automated privacy insights, Google believes its new tool can help mobile app developers of all sizes save time by eliminating complicated processes.

Developers that utilize Checks when updating their existing apps or preparing to launch new ones can make informed decisions as the tool identifies potential compliance issues, provides clear actionable insights in simple language and includes links to relevant sources.

Insights for privacy and compliance issues

In addition to helping app developers, the Checks platform also provides the same insights to a business' legal, engineering and other departments without the need for any technical integrations. This helps reduce the number of messages, meetings and documents teams need to track down information.

As Software Development Kits (SDKs) can change their functionality at a moment's notice, Checks help mobile app developers using SDKs by automatically detecting and alerting them when an app's data sharing practices have changed. If the change wasn't intended, they can investigate further as to where the new data is being shared and make the necessary changes to remain in compliance.

Mobile app developers working to prepare for the launch of Google Play's Data safety section, which will provide end users with information on what data apps collect or share and how apps use their data, can also use Checks to help them do so.

Interested developers can request early access to Checks now and when Google's new privacy platform launches, there will be three paid tiers and a free tier. While the free tier will only help developers complete Google Play's Data safety section, Checks' paid plans can help with GDPR compliance and provide insights on privacy-related issues and data sharing practices.

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Google's email service has reached a new milestone as Gmail for Android has now surpassed 10bn installs on the Google Play Store.

Billions of people around the world currently use the search giant's email app for both their work and personal email accounts especially as it comes pre-installed on almost all Android smartphones.

Over the years, Google has added new features and functionality to Gmail including the ability to make video calls right within the app through Google Meet and more recently, new search filters that give mobile users the same tools they have on desktop.

While Gmail has been around for years and has now been installed over 10bn times, Google's other email app, Inbox by Gmail, launched in 2015 and was shuttered just four years later. However, many of Inbox's ideas eventually found their way into the main Gmail app including the ability to snooze emails, Smart Reply, nudges and high-priority notifications.

Reaching 10bn installs

Gmail is the latest first-party Android app to reach 10bn+ installs and it joins the ranks of Google Play services, YouTube and Google Maps which have also reached this milestone.

While Google Play services was the first app to do so back in 2020, it was followed by YouTube last summer and then by Google Maps in November of 2021. Google Chrome also crossed the 10bn install threshold as well at the time of writing.

When it comes to the next apps that will reach 10bn installs, both Meta's Facebook app and Google Drive are quite close at 5bn+ installs respectively.

Now that Gmail has reached 10bn installs, Google will likely commemorate this milestone in a blog post and we could even see additional features arrive in the company's email app soon.

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Via 9To5Google