Downloaded Chrome recently? Beware, scammers can trick you with fake apps, here is how to stay safe
Follow UsA fake Chrome app reportedly crossed 1 lakh downloads on the Google Play Store.
The imitation app showed AI avatars and ads instead of offering web browsing.
Check the developer name before downloading Chrome. The official app is published by Google LLC.
Have you recently downloaded Google Chrome from the Play Store? The app could be a fake. According to a Reddit post, a suspicious app closely resembling Google Chrome appeared in the store’s search results. The app allegedly has a similar name and logo to the official app. However, it was developed by a different developer. The fake app reportedly crossed over 1,00,000 downloads before it was taken down by Google. What’s more concerning is that the app allegedly offered a chat-style interface with AI avatars and heavy ads instead of web browsing, raising serious questions about Google’s app screening process.
SurveyFake Chrome app
According to a Reddit post, a fake app that closely resembles Google Chrome appeared in the official Google Play Store search results. It had a name and logo that were very close to that of the original Chrome app but was listed by a different app developer who goes by the name of ‘Hizbartech’. The post further stated that the imitation app appeared above the actual Chrome app in search results as a sponsored listing.
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As per a comment made on this post, the app was first listed as a game app titled ‘Ball Bounce’ on August 22. Its name and logo were changed to that of Google Chrome on September 30. Users who installed it reportedly found that it was neither a game nor a browser. Instead, it opened a chat-style interface featuring AI avatars and bombarded the screen with ads. There is no evidence so far that the app stole passwords or installed malware.
Play Store safety under scrutiny
The listing reportedly crossed over 1,00,000 downloads before it was taken down, which has raised questions about how the app passed Google’s checks and whether changes to its name and icon were properly reviewed. Another worry arises from the use of paid promotion, since the listing managed to get a high profile despite its resemblance to a famous Google product. We at Digit did not see the fake app in Google Play at the time of writing.
How to stay safe
Although this is not something which happens all the time, one should always practise caution and prevent oneself from falling into such traps. This is simple to do. Before downloading an app from the Play Store, check the developer’s name. The genuine Chrome app is published by Google LLC. Remember that a sponsored tag alone doesn’t make an app fake, and a high download count doesn’t prove it is genuine. If you spot a suspicious app, report it to the Play Store so that concerned authorities can look into the matter.
