• Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Story Writers
  • About
  • Reach Us
Monday, March 1, 2021
Giga Biting
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Technology
      • Android
      • iOS
      • Mobile Apps
      • Computers and Gadgets
    • Business
    • Education
    • Fashion
    • Finance
    • Home
      • Garden
      • Family
      • Food
    • Real Estate
    • News
  • Press Release
  • Pages
    • Story Writers
    • Editorial Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy
  • Reach Us
No Result
View All Result
Giga Biting
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Technology
      • Android
      • iOS
      • Mobile Apps
      • Computers and Gadgets
    • Business
    • Education
    • Fashion
    • Finance
    • Home
      • Garden
      • Family
      • Food
    • Real Estate
    • News
  • Press Release
  • Pages
    • Story Writers
    • Editorial Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy
  • Reach Us
Giga Biting
No Result
View All Result
Home Mobile Apps

New Google Warning: 280M+ Android Users At Risk As China ‘Manipulates’ Play Store

mm by Bruce Logan
1 year ago
in Mobile Apps
0 0
0
New Google Warning: 280M+ Android Users At Risk As China ‘Manipulates’ Play Store
0
SHARES
83
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Stories about China and the VPN market usually focus on the use of these virtual private networks to access news sites and social media when caught behind the country’s infamous “Great Firewall.” But now there’s a twist, with new research finding that “the top 10 Google Play search results for ‘vpn’ are dominated by [Chinese] apps participating in potentially fraudulent manipulation practices.” And those apps have secured more than 280 million installs between them.

VPNs redirect internet traffic through remote servers, hiding user locations and IP addresses, encrypting information sent and received. And so this new research from the team at VPNPro is worrying on two counts. First, Google’s system appears to be easily gamed. There are no sophisticated tactics at work here—the researchers claim that basic ruses make all the difference. And, second, users might inadvertently install VPNs they believe to be popular and safe, when in fact if data is logged, if that data can be linked to the individual using the app, then the purpose of the VPN is undermined.

In short, the team claims to have “uncovered what appears to be a large scale operation by Chinese VPN service providers to manipulate Google Play store results—leading to millions of people using potentially unsafe VPNs.” The team has concluded that the blatant manipulation of Google Play together with the “obligation” Chinese tech companies have “to hand data to the government when requested, “could indicate a much more serious issue beyond algorithm manipulation.”

The VPNPro team found that “seven out of the top ten apps,” found to be manipulating the Google Play system, “are either based in Hong Kong, have Chinese directors, or are located in China.”

Commenting on the research, VPNPro security researcher Jan Youngren warned that “at best we’ve uncovered companies using underhand, unethical tactics to mislead consumers and make millions. At worst, there’s a much more sinister strategy at play to monitor and obtain the data of millions of people who have cause to use a VPN to stay safe and private—Often these people live in countries where it is dangerous to publicly express their views, or work in fields such as investigative journalism and human rights… an unsafe VPN can be a matter of life or death.”

Based on extensive analysis carried out by the team earlier this year, the Google Play ranking algorithm “allows black hat tactics to improve rankings for such a popular keyword [as ‘vpn’], Google has previously ​vowed to clamp down on app manipulation tactics,​ but this research shows that it still has a long way to go.” Although “rankings in Google Play are very volatile,” a VPNPro researcher explained, “we haven’t noted any big changes to the rankings which would indicate the algorithm has changed.”

ShareTweetPin
Previous Post

Fake Lightning Cables That Can Hijack Connected Devices Are Heading for Mass Production

Next Post

Phone app detects eye disease in kids through photos

Related Posts

Top 5 Apps For Finding Out Flight Times
Mobile Apps

Top 5 Apps For Finding Out Flight Times

June 27, 2020
68
5 Of The Latest And Greatest Gardening Apps Available For Your Mobile Device
Garden

5 Of The Latest And Greatest Gardening Apps Available For Your Mobile Device

June 27, 2020
85
6 Awesome Apps For Travel Bugs
Mobile Apps

6 Awesome Apps For Travel Bugs

June 26, 2020
57
5 Top Fitness Apps To Help You In Your Journey Towards A Healthier Life
Health

5 Top Fitness Apps To Help You In Your Journey Towards A Healthier Life

June 26, 2020
18
5 Powerful Apps Gardeners And Future Gardeners Will Love To Get Their Hands On
Garden

5 Powerful Apps Gardeners And Future Gardeners Will Love To Get Their Hands On

June 26, 2020
47
5 iPhone Apps That Can Help You Park Better
Car

5 iPhone Apps That Can Help You Park Better

June 26, 2020
34
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Hardwood Flooring Still Remains One Of The Best And Most Popular Flooring Option This Year!

Hardwood Flooring Still Remains One Of The Best And Most Popular Flooring Option This Year!

November 24, 2019
Why is Smart Education the Next Big Thing?

Why is Smart Education the Next Big Thing?

April 16, 2020
Ever Thought About The Services That A Mall Security Guard Provides?

Ever Thought About The Services That A Mall Security Guard Provides?

November 29, 2019
Why It’s Inadvisable To Remove Mold Without The Help Of A Specialist

Why It’s Inadvisable To Remove Mold Without The Help Of A Specialist

November 29, 2019
3 Big Mistakes To Avoid When You Renovate Your Kitchen

3 Big Mistakes To Avoid When You Renovate Your Kitchen

November 29, 2019
Apple iOS 13.1.2, Another Surprise Update With More Essential Fixes

Apple iOS 13.1.2: Another Surprise Update With More Essential Fixes

0
Galaxy S11 might get a crazy new feature we’ve never seen before in a smartphone

Galaxy S11 might get a crazy new feature we’ve never seen before in a smartphone

0
Android 10’s impressive Live Caption feature will likely launch on Pixel 4

Android 10’s impressive Live Caption feature will likely launch on Pixel 4

0
Fake Lightning Cables That Can Hijack Connected Devices Are Heading for Mass Production

Fake Lightning Cables That Can Hijack Connected Devices Are Heading for Mass Production

0
New Google Warning: 280M+ Android Users At Risk As China ‘Manipulates’ Play Store

New Google Warning: 280M+ Android Users At Risk As China ‘Manipulates’ Play Store

0
What Is Your Preferred Kind of T-Shirt?

What Is Your Preferred Kind of T-Shirt?

February 19, 2021
Xiaomi announces Redmi Note 9T for UK, bringing premium innovation and 5G speeds

Xiaomi announces Redmi Note 9T for UK, bringing premium innovation and 5G speeds

January 27, 2021
Great Examples of Tech and Nature Working Together

Great Examples of Tech and Nature Working Together

January 21, 2021
Cool Ways To Increase Your Facebook Engagement Success

Cool Ways To Increase Your Facebook Engagement Success

January 20, 2021
5 Home Fitness Gadgets That Could Help You Live Longer By Improving Your Health

5 Home Fitness Gadgets That Could Help You Live Longer By Improving Your Health

January 20, 2021

Tag cloud

Financial Tips Learning English Jaguar Classic Printer Flawlessly Honda Restaurants In Vaughan horse float flooring Printer ink Audi bunk beds for kids German Kitchen Design Auto Show Car title loans Lamborghini inkjet printers Horse Floats Dashboard Driving Performance Lexus

Archives

Latest News

What Is Your Preferred Kind of T-Shirt?

What Is Your Preferred Kind of T-Shirt?

February 19, 2021
Xiaomi announces Redmi Note 9T for UK, bringing premium innovation and 5G speeds

Xiaomi announces Redmi Note 9T for UK, bringing premium innovation and 5G speeds

January 27, 2021
Great Examples of Tech and Nature Working Together

Great Examples of Tech and Nature Working Together

January 21, 2021

About

Giga Biting

Giga Biting is a web blog which covers the most important news stories taking place in the world on each and every topic. We offer content that is wholesome in perspective and offers the most amount of details.

Categories

  • Android
  • Business
  • Car
  • Computers and Gadgets
  • Education
  • Family
  • Fashion
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Garden
  • Gifts
  • Health
  • Home
  • iOS
  • Life
  • Mobile Apps
  • News
  • Press Release
  • Real Estate
  • Technology
  • Travel

© 2019 Giga Biting - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Giga Biting.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Technology
      • Android
      • iOS
      • Mobile Apps
      • Computers and Gadgets
    • Business
    • Education
    • Fashion
    • Finance
    • Home
      • Garden
      • Family
      • Food
    • Real Estate
    • News
  • Press Release
  • Pages
    • Story Writers
    • Editorial Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy
  • Reach Us

© 2019 Giga Biting - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Giga Biting.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In