By Google has now verified that 77 fraudulent apps have been removed from the Play Store. However, this is only the beginning of a concerning trend. Google deleted “nearly four million apps, equating to approximately 11,000 app removals per day” during the course of the previous year.
Surfshark provided the data, which Google verified through “transparency reports and supplemental data files” available in the Play Store. According to Surfshark, “data protection and privacy policy violations” accounted for almost half of the deletions.
Millions of apps have been removed as a result of Google’s pledge to clean up the Play Store last year. Due to policy enforcement, the Play Store lost about half of its apps in the first few months of 2024. Furthermore, it turns out that Google was only getting started in 2024.
“Google reported terminating approximately 155,000 developer accounts in 2024,” in addition to removing apps. That was only available on the Play Store. Sideloading is being added to the new requirement that developers be verified. This implies that the only developers who can release apps for approved Android phones are those who fulfil Google’s requirements.
According to Google, “if you are looking for an app that is no longer available on Google Play,” it might be because the developer has taken it down, but it’s more likely that it was “removed or suspended from Google Play” due to a violation of Google’s regulations.
It becomes intriguing at that point. Google cautions that an app won’t be deleted from your device even if it is “removed” from Google Play. This implies that “you can keep using the app.” You won’t be able to update your app, though.
A Play Protect notice and a deletion prompt might appear if the app is judged hazardous. However, the majority of apps that are deleted from the Play Store will remain on your phone. Remove any apps that don’t update because they aren’t available on the Play Store. It cannot be updated, therefore security fixes cannot be implemented, even if it is not harmful.
In a similar vein, remove any apps from your phone that you no longer require or use. It is the duty of users to adopt safe downloading practices, according to Surfshark. This entails reading reviews, verifying app permissions, and sticking with reputable developers. Take the app off of your phone if it has been taken down from the store.
“The public is unaware of this incredible digital purge,” Surfshark informed me. “The reality is a little more complicated, even though it might give the impression that every app we download is safe.” Keep these apps off of your phone.
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