Topic
Google Play
Fake GTA and Ghost Casino Apps Flood Google Play Early Access with Scam Promises
Fraud & Social EngineeringGoogle Introduces Multi-Step Verification for Android APK Sideloading to Combat Fraud
Fraud & Social Engineering
Multiple Ozon Apps Removed from Google Play Following Sanctions on Ozon Bank
Policy & RegulationAndroid Banking Trojans Hide in Droppers to Bypass Google Play Checks
Kaspersky solutions blocked 1.99 million attacks involving Android malware, adware and potentially unwanted programs in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.68 million the previous quarter. Researchers still recorded 304,000 malicious installation packages, among them 93,600 banking trojans that retained the largest share at 30.77 percent. Operators increasingly rely on droppers that pass initial store review and later download the real payload. One PDF reader application distributed through Google Play displayed a fake update prompt that installed the Anatsa banking trojan. The Cleanova dropper collected installation-source data and delivered its payload only under attacker-chosen conditions, avoiding analysis environments. The share of users hit by Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.Banker.dd rose sharply from 0.01 percent to 2.16 percent, while the Mamont and Creduz families continued to expand with new variants.
Telegram Briefly Removed from App Store After Apple Detects Child Sexual Abuse Material
Telegram was temporarily pulled from the App Store in multiple countries after Apple moderators identified content linked to child sexual abuse. The removal lasted roughly 20 minutes before the app was reinstated following Telegram's quick removal of the prohibited material and blocking of the responsible user. Apple cited strict App Store rules as the reason for the action. During the outage, already-installed copies continued to function normally while the app remained available via the Mac App Store and Google Play. Telegram responded on X with the quote “Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated” before Apple issued its official explanation. This marks at least the third documented instance of Telegram facing App Store removal, including a 2018 incident over unacceptable content and a 2024 removal from the Chinese store at the request of local regulators.
Google to Allow Competing Android App Stores Directly Inside Play Store After Epic Games Court Ruling
Google is preparing to open its official Google Play store to rival Android app marketplaces starting July 22, following a court order issued in the long-running antitrust lawsuit with Epic Games. The ruling stems from the 2020 Fortnite dispute over Google’s 30% commission and direct in-app purchases that bypassed the platform’s billing system. A federal judge determined that Google had unlawfully prevented device makers from promoting or pre-installing alternative app stores, thereby reinforcing Google Play’s monopoly position. As a result, approved third-party stores will now be distributed directly through Google Play, receive default access to its app catalog, and be subject to an annual $5,000 verification fee. Developers retain the right to block distribution of their apps on specific stores, while participating marketplaces must meet strict security, copyright, and update obligations or risk removal if suspicious installations exceed 1%. Although the changes are expected to apply primarily in the United States, the decision marks a fundamental shift in how Google must accommodate competitors within its own ecosystem.