Google Remove 164 Apps From Play Store For Ad Spam

Google Play Store (AndroidAuthority)

JAKARTA - Google again has to kick a number of applications that annoy its users with ad attacks. A total of 164 apps have been removed by the Company from the Play Store app store.

All these applications serve ads on mobile users massively and out of context. The term out-of-context advertising actually refers to advertisements served on mobile phones that display pop ups on the screen but are separate from the default application.

Of course, this makes users annoyed and uncomfortable. This is not the first time Google has done this.

Previously, in February 2020, Google had issued a policy to prohibit ads from showing out of context. Based on reports from the company, the user cannot detect the source of the ad. Not only that, a number of applications that Google removed can also open up to the Android device system via spam.

In June 2020, Google removed 38 applications. Meanwhile, in October, Google removed 240 apps from the Play Store.

It is White Ops that invented a number of these applications. For additional information, White Ops is a security agency that detects bots and fraud via advertisements. The company claims that the 164 apps that Google is cracking down on are in a different cluster to the findings of similar apps in June and October last year.

Before the company reported its findings to Google, White Ops announced that the apps had been downloaded 10 million times. Through its official page, the company displays the findings of the entire list of applications.

Launching ZDNet, most of these applications mimic existing popular applications. They also copy other functions and app names for quick download.

White Ops reveals that the most downloaded application is iSwipe Phone X which has as many as 5 million downloads. In addition, there is the 3D Photo Editor application that has been downloaded 50 thousand times. Ringtone Maker - Mp3 Cutter as many as 1 million downloads. And finally, App Lock New 2019 - Privacy Zone & Lock Your Apps has been downloaded 1 million times.

White Ops urges users to be more careful when downloading applications so that their cellphones are not bombarded with out-of-context advertisements. Moreover, the application comes from an unofficial or trusted source, aka fake.

“Look at the review, don't just look at the 5 star review but also look at the 1 and 2 star reviews as well. They are the ones who will post inappropriate advertisements and will warn you if something is wrong, "said the White Ops as written on its official website.

Even though these applications have been removed from the Google Play Store application store, users who have downloaded the application are expected to immediately delete them manually via their own smartphone.