Some Android GPS Apps Are Just Showing Ads on Top of Google Maps (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on Thursday January 17, 2019 @08:15AM from the closer-look dept.

A security researcher with antivirus maker ESET has discovered a collection of 19 Android apps that pose as GPS applications but which don't do anything but show ads on top of the legitimate Google Maps service. From a report: "They attract potential users with fake screenshots stolen from legitimate Navigation apps," said Lukas Stefanko, the ESET researcher who found them, who pointed out the 19 apps have been downloaded more than 50 million times. The apps "pretend to be full featured navigation apps, but all they can do is to create useless layer between User and Google Maps app," the researcher said. Stefanko says that the apps don't have any actual "navigation technology" and they only "misuse Google Maps."

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Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by saloomy · 2019-01-17 09:16 · Score: 4, Insightful

What you consider their BS is their way of making sure your BS doesn't get on their user's phones. Seriously, they have over a million apps that are regularly managed and updated. If you can't get your app through their app screening process, do all your Android customers a favor, and change careers.