Google needs to step up its game; they are getting panned hard for their lack of vetting in the Play store. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/04/08/google_kills_virus_app_after_decompilation_proves_its_a_fake/
Google kills fake anti-virus app that hit No. 1 on Play charts High performance access to file storage "Virus Shield", an app that briefly shot to the top of the charts on Google Play, has turned out to be a complete fake and has therefore been pulled by Google. The scam, turned up by Android Police, is as simple as a con-man could wish for: the app includes almost no functionality whatever, yet it was briefly a chart-topper on Google Play, something that at $US3.99 for the download. According to Appbrain, the software sailed past 10,000 downloads, putting its take at close to $US40,000 for nothing at all. The Register says "almost no functionality" because the app does just one thing: it changes its icon when you tap it, pretending to be checking your phone for viruses. As Android Police says: "this is such a brazen and expensive fake that we felt the need to give it some special attention. It's somewhat disheartening that an app so obviously fake could rise to the top, especially considering that it's paid, and possibly hundreds or thousands of people have been defrauded already." To prove the point, they've posted the decompiled Java code at github. El Reg would note that at least two of the claims made by the software - low battery consumption and no ads - are true. Along with the legitimate complaint that a scam app like this should never have made it onto Google Play, The Register would also ask why a developer could get away with apparently operating under a fake identity. (R) High performance access to file storage -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Unique Geek" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
