VPN Apps With 500M+ Installs Caught Serving Disruptive Ads To Android Users (thenextweb.com) 14
New submitter screwdriver1 shares a report from The Next Web: In a yet another instance of Android adware, New Zealand-based independent security researcher Andy Michael found four apps with cumulative downloads of over 500 million that not only serve ads while running the background, but are also placed outside the apps, including the home screen. The apps in question are Hotspot VPN, Free VPN Master, Secure VPN, and Security Master by Cheetah Mobile. It's notable that all these apps originate from Hong Kong and China, where citizens have typically relied on VPNs to get around the Great Firewall. The apps are live on the Play Store to this date. But in an interesting twist, the apps containing the adware were all VPN or antivirus apps, suggesting that developers are increasingly banking on users' trust in security-related apps to commit "outside ad fraud."
Google has a strict policy with regards to adware and disruptive ads in general. "We don't allow apps that contain deceptive or disruptive ads. Ads must only be displayed within the app serving them. We consider ads served in your app as part of your app. The ads shown in your app must be compliant with all our policies." The company, when reached for a response, said it would take action on the apps if they're indeed found in violation of its policies. Some VPN apps lie to us and Google shouldn't allow it.
Google has a strict policy with regards to adware and disruptive ads in general. "We don't allow apps that contain deceptive or disruptive ads. Ads must only be displayed within the app serving them. We consider ads served in your app as part of your app. The ads shown in your app must be compliant with all our policies." The company, when reached for a response, said it would take action on the apps if they're indeed found in violation of its policies. Some VPN apps lie to us and Google shouldn't allow it.
Design flaw in Android? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Something Google intended to use themselves.
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Ah, so they must have flipped the "Permission to Do Evil" bit.
It seems that Apple's claims of a lack of conflict of interest, and thus generally better security, are backed up by observable facts.
Re: Design flaw in Android? (Score:2)
Re: Design flaw in Android? (Score:2)
So we observe an Android app showing ads vs a lockscreen bypass....
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It's the bit called "Android" - you know, the advertisement vector and a surveillance platform disguised as a consumer mobile OS designed by Google. I guess the silly free VPN makers didn't understand that only Google is allowed to do truly nasty shit on their own platform.
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The "OS" is just a way to send out more ads
Re: Design flaw in Android? (Score:3)
vpn authors seeking new income sources (Score:3)
After Chinese crackdown on VPN apps they realized there is no chance for normal user growth, so they are looking for new ways to profit from existing users.
Select an OS thats not from an (Score:1)
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Is it me or is it not too smart? (Score:2)
I mean, using a VPN app from China, of all the places?