TL;DR
- A fake Google Chrome app with over 100,000 downloads was available on the Play Store.
- The app, from a developer named “Hizbartech,” even paid its way to the top of the search results for “Chrome.”
- Google has since removed the app, but it raises questions about the Play Store’s review and ad practices.
Google talks a big game about trying to keep the Android ecosystem safe and secure. The company recently started cracking down on sideloading apps because malicious actors can easily create fake apps and trick users into installing them. Instead, Google wants users to install apps directly from the Play Store.
The idea is that installing apps from the Play Store pretty much guarantees you won’t install a fake or malicious app. However, Google doesn’t seem to be doing a stellar job of keeping the Play Store safe, either.