Tech · 15 d ago
Helar Lukats · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A fake WhatsApp app reached 500,000 downloads on Google Play
The copy used the screenshots and description of the real WhatsApp page, and appeared in the store's sponsored results for people searching for the messaging app.
What we know
- Over 500,000 downloads
- Shown in sponsored search results
- Hid reviews through early access
Not yet
- How it got past Google Play's checks for a month
It was published last month by an unknown developer account, its only app, and a Reddit user spotted it.
The loophole used
early access
The app was enrolled in Google Play's early access program, which hides public reviews that could have warned users.
What to do
Before installing an app, check the exact name of the developer that publishes it.
