So I think Google is definitely motivated to keep malware off of its app store. It’s bad for business. But we see the malicious apps from time to time anyway.
Likewise Apple is motivated to keep malware off the app store. Again it’s a bad reflection on Apple when they sneak through, but they do.
I just don’t see third parties being more motivated or having more resources than Apple or Google to police an app store. The malware is going to be worse on a third party app store, and they will quickly turn to dark patterns in order to maximize whatever they can squeeze out of the user.
I’m not opposed to opening up competition on app stores. Just don’t come back here to register your shock when the malware situation is kicked into overdrive.
I'm 44. My parents are 64 and 62. They are, I guess you could call them "tech-illiterate".
My simple rules for them: You don't install anything on your devices without checking with me. This includes the browser. You also don't go on shady sites offering free streaming of your favorite TV shows. If you want such media, you ask me and I get it for you. You only stay on legit/popular sites. Plus, I use a simple DNS sinkhole and browser-based ad-blocking.
These simple rules and precautionshave saved me tons of time, money, and frustration. My friends in similar situations didn't make such rules. The result, as an example: my friend's dad managed to have Safari and other stuff on his MacBook Air essentially hijacked by adware.
Children, elderly, and tech-illiterate people will click on anything and give up any piece of information. They will also do this regardless of you telling them otherwise -- this is a sign of disrespect and bad behavior that should be punished.
I accept that Google can't always pick these apps up when published but they need a transparent mechanism for reporting and taking them down.
I have a successful app on the Play store that is becoming less and less successful over time because almost all the competition do not play by the rules and violate the terms in one way or another but mostly comment spam which unfairly boosts their rankings.
Google do have a page to report them on but the response despite giving clear examples of repeated review and repeated fake reviewers is always thanks for your report and that's it.
So far I've not seen any action. Apps are still there and still full of fake reviews.
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[ 5.2 ms ] story [ 23.9 ms ] threadLikewise Apple is motivated to keep malware off the app store. Again it’s a bad reflection on Apple when they sneak through, but they do.
I just don’t see third parties being more motivated or having more resources than Apple or Google to police an app store. The malware is going to be worse on a third party app store, and they will quickly turn to dark patterns in order to maximize whatever they can squeeze out of the user.
I’m not opposed to opening up competition on app stores. Just don’t come back here to register your shock when the malware situation is kicked into overdrive.
My simple rules for them: You don't install anything on your devices without checking with me. This includes the browser. You also don't go on shady sites offering free streaming of your favorite TV shows. If you want such media, you ask me and I get it for you. You only stay on legit/popular sites. Plus, I use a simple DNS sinkhole and browser-based ad-blocking.
These simple rules and precautionshave saved me tons of time, money, and frustration. My friends in similar situations didn't make such rules. The result, as an example: my friend's dad managed to have Safari and other stuff on his MacBook Air essentially hijacked by adware.
Children, elderly, and tech-illiterate people will click on anything and give up any piece of information. They will also do this regardless of you telling them otherwise -- this is a sign of disrespect and bad behavior that should be punished.
I have a successful app on the Play store that is becoming less and less successful over time because almost all the competition do not play by the rules and violate the terms in one way or another but mostly comment spam which unfairly boosts their rankings.
Google do have a page to report them on but the response despite giving clear examples of repeated review and repeated fake reviewers is always thanks for your report and that's it.
So far I've not seen any action. Apps are still there and still full of fake reviews.