Google is eliminating applications from the PlayStore with a “limited scope”. This mostly applies to spam programs that no one needs.
Google wants to remove apps with “limited scope” from the PlayStore. This mostly refers to spam applications that have little substance or functionality but clutter up search results. From August 31, such applications will no longer be available in the Play Store.
Google confirmed this on its support website. “Apps that crash, lack the basic level of appropriate usefulness as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is inconsistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play,” according to the announcement.
Apps lacking functionality are tossed out.
Google also provides concrete examples: applications that only show static text or PDF documents will no longer be allowed. Apps with “very little content” – Google uses apps with a single wallpaper as an example – will also be prohibited in the future. Apps with no utility at all will be uninstalled.
It is unclear how many apps will be affected by the new restriction or how frequently Google intends to take action against such programs. Google claims in a blog post that it will have blocked the publishing of over 2 million applications by 2023. However, it is unclear how many were eventually erased.
Google is continuously changing its app store criteria to remove misleading or fraudulent apps from the Play Store. Nonetheless, programs infested with malware slip through time and again. ZScaler ThreatLabz found and analyzed over 90 malicious applications on the Google Play Store. The malware-infected applications totaled more than 5.5 million installs.