Watch out, Google Plays Early Access could become a breeding ground for malicious apps with no public reviews or ratings, what could go wrong?

Date:
Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Google Play is a go-to for downloading trustworthy apps, but this could
change everything

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Bitdefender finds Google Play Early Access platform could give malicious apps an easy breeding ground User reviews and ratings are not publicly displayed, removing the ability for
users to evaluate if an app is legitimate Games, casinos, and utility apps
are being loaded with malicious packages and downloaded thousands of times Google has unveiled an Early Access program for the Play Store, allowing developers to list early-access apps for testing and feedback.

While great for smaller apps looking to weed out any wrinkles in their apps, Early Access also offers a lucrative way for malicious actors to lure users into downloading apps that look legitimate, but can hide malicious packages inside. However, new research from Bitdefender notes the fact that the Early Access program hides public reviews and ratings could lead to an app
ecosystem filled with scams, fake casinos, and malware-laden packages masquerading as legitimate software. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Early Access is filled with dangerous apps When looking for apps on the normal Play Store, one of the first things users are greeted with is
an apps rating. For fake or malicious apps, users can quickly evaluate
whether or not to download the app thanks to the star rating and user
reviews. While there is the potential for nefarious developers to fake
reviews and ratings there is at least some ability to check if an app is legitimate.

But the Early Access system does away with public user ratings and reviews entirely. There is effectively no way for users who fall victim to a fake app to publicly warn other users not to download the app. You may like Apple and Google are hosting hundreds of dangerous VPN links here is why your device
is at risk 10 million downloads but no website? New TechRadar data reveals
how Android VPNs are gaming the system to avoid supporting users effectively Thousands of iOS and Android VPNs are hiding behind fake websites and useless privacy policies here's how to spot them

Add to this equation that ability for developers to show off their apps through sponsored Facebook and TikTok videos, offering outrageous rewards or using deepfakes of celebrities to entice users to install their apps.

This is especially true for fake gambling apps. Bitdefender has spotted numerous adverts for casino apps using deepfakes of well known celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Jason Statham, and Andrew Tate. These apps
actively push users into the Google Play Early Access store, or direct to the apps website. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Bitdefender) Other listings mimic well-known apps, adding financial
incentives for downloading such as doubling the money you invest every time you complete a task or overcome an obstacle. Other apps take advantage of the hype for upcoming game releases, such as Grand Theft Auto V and VI. These
apps often use screenshots from the actual games in order to appear legitimate.

When detected as illegitimate, these scam apps will often be deleted before being replaced by exact copies that perform the same malicious functions.
Some illegitimate apps have been downloaded thousands of times, Bitdefender said, but many remain available on the Google Play Early Access store.

But the scam apps arent limited to games and casino apps. Bitdefender also
saw numerous apps offering utility functions such as QR code scanners or PDF readers. In some circumstances, the exact same apps were listed multiple
times by different developers - likely to expand the reach and maximize the number of downloads.

Bitdefender notes that Google Plays reputation relies on users being able to trust the apps they are downloading, but the Early Access program removes almost every way users can detect a malicious app before installing. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/watch-out-google-plays-early-access-cou ld-become-a-breeding-ground-for-malicious-apps-with-no-public-reviews-or-ratin gs-what-could-go-wrong


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)