GOOGLE has banned a shopping app downloaded by more than a million people due to security concerns.
The tech giant insists Android users to uninstall China-owned Pinduoduo if they find the app on their phones.
1
Dangerous malware is said to have been found on the platform.
It is one of China’s largest online retailers.
although Google can get apps from the google play store, it can’t delete things already installed on your phone.
So if you have it on your device, you are urged to remove it now.
The app store showed that over a million had downloaded it before it was removed.
“Off-Play versions of this app found to contain malware have been enforced through Google Play Protect,” said a Google representative.
A spokesperson for Pinduoduo’s owner, PDD Holdings, told Reuters: “Google Play informed us this morning that the Pinduoduo app has been temporarily suspended because the current version does not comply with Google’s policies, but has not shared any further details.”
It’s not clear what the move means for Temu, a similar app from PDD Holdings that’s popular in the US.
How does Google Play Protect work?
This is what Google Play Protect does…
- Checks Google Play Store apps for security before downloading them
- Checks for non-Play Store apps that can be harmful
- Warns you about malicious apps
- Disables or removes malicious apps
- Warns you about apps that violate policies by hiding or misrepresenting themselves
- Sends you privacy warnings about apps that may use permissions to access your personal information
- Reset app permissions to protect your privacy
Of course, Google’s security feature may not catch all instances of bad behavior, so you should still exercise caution online.
Make sure Google Play Protect is turned on
Open the Google Play Store app, then tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
Now tap Settings and look under About to see if your device is Play Protect certified.
To enable or disable it, open the Play Store and tap the profile icon.
Tap Play Protect > Settings and enable or disable Scan apps with Play Protect.
Best tips and hacks for phones and gadgets
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features in social media apps? We’ve got you covered…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for the Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]