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

Posted by msmash on 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."

39 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Google sloppy management by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    Google is becoming more and more sloppily managed, in my opinion.

    1. Re: Google sloppy management by saloomy · · Score: 1

      Google doesn't but Apple does. Apple's user experience seems to be WAY better than Androids (just follow the Android privacy or malware thread VS. iOS), it is plain as day.

      I believe that if I want to pay a company to protect me from bad actors among the literally hundreds, if not thousands of apps I have no bandwidth to police by myself, I should have the right to do so. Given the fact that there are other options, this isn't a monopoly.

      Besides, it is their product and service. If it was someone else's platform, and they used a market position to say for example "you can only have access to Apple computers if we get to control entirely the app process on your mobile OS", then that would be an abuse of a monopolistic position (assuming they had a monopoly on desktops, they do not). Them controlling their own product, without the need to bully anyone into submission, means it isn't a monopoly.

  2. What's an alternative to Google maps? by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

    In the eternal quest to keep the moronic UI developer employed, (as seen by most tech companies the past 10 years nearly) Google have recently, entirely stuffed Google maps.

    The 'compass' to the right of the screen which you can tap for 'full overhead' or 'rear chase helicopter, video game style' camera has been very "cleverly" removed by yet another moron.

    There's no simple way to have the map always face north when in navigation mode, there's no simple way to make the map always have the above view camera. It's just the behind view thing and the tracking seems suddenly worse to boot.

    I'm _intensely_ sick of UI change for the worst, it's been like this for a decade and only getting worse.

    See this interesting snippet showing some of the most common themes of modern UI design, IS worse for end users.
    https://twitter.com/bob_burrou...

    I can't emphasize how sick I am of finding software becoming more difficult to use.

    1. Re: What's an alternative to Google maps? by Tomahawk · · Score: 1

      Have you used the "send feedback" feature?

    2. Re:What's an alternative to Google maps? by Solandri · · Score: 4, Informative

      The 'compass' to the right of the screen which you can tap for 'full overhead' or 'rear chase helicopter, video game style' camera has been very "cleverly" removed by yet another moron.

      There's no simple way to have the map always face north when in navigation mode, there's no simple way to make the map always have the above view camera. It's just the behind view thing and the tracking seems suddenly worse to boot.

      Chase camera mode (tilted mode) is now seamlessly integrated with top-down mode. You do a two-finger swipe up or down to tilt the map at any arbitrary angle from top-down view to fullly tilted (looks to be about 30 degrees). I never used chase camera mode, so was mildly annoyed when I first accidentally tilted the map. But it was easy enough to put it back into top-down mode.

      The compass which used to always be present now disappears when you have the map aligned so North is up. If you rotate the map (two finger twist), the compass reappears. Tapping it when it appears re-aligns your map so North is up, like before (and makes the compass disappear). I consider this a useful change because back when the compass was always present, you couldn't be sure if the map was properly aligned so North was up if it was slightly rotated. The OCD part of me was always tapping the compass when it was already aligned so North was up.

      On top of this, they finally added back the general "avoid tolls" option. This used to be a general option in the early 2010s. But then they moved it so it was only available when you made a navigation route; the problem being it didn't remember your setting on previous routes. So I was constantly getting routes on a nearby toll road unless I disabled toll routes every single time. They finally changed it back to a general setting a few updates ago.

    3. Re: What's an alternative to Google maps? by Tomahawk · · Score: 1

      Of course we are. But in order to keep their "product", they need to listen so we keep using their apps. Otherwise we'll switch to something else.
      So use the feedback feature and let them know what they can do to keep you.
      Or leave and use something else. I, personally, don't care. But Google just might...

    4. Re:What's an alternative to Google maps? by GrumpySteen · · Score: 1

      Buy a dedicated GPS with lifetime map updates. The UI will stay the same as long as you only update the maps and don't upgrade the firmware.

    5. Re:What's an alternative to Google maps? by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

      I've just skimmed over your post and I get the impression you're implying it's still possible.

      I've just done this and it doesn't hold the position, it's a temporary view while holding your fingers down.

      Literally more difficult and requiring endless holding of two fingers, in a navigation app that honestly we really shouldn't be touching the screen for at all, when driving.

      I'm sorry, but how fucking insanely stupid are ui developers at this point? I mean if this was a one off, fine. But this shit KEEPS HAPPENING.

      Btw for my version? Avoid tolls has worked fine and remembered for several years?

    6. Re: What's an alternative to Google maps? by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

      Someone please mod this angry guy up, he's entirely correct, language or not. UI developers are only step away from being as awful as parking inspectors, lawyers or realtors.

    7. Re:What's an alternative to Google maps? by Mryll · · Score: 1

      Ditto Microsoft

    8. Re:What's an alternative to Google maps? by sveinki · · Score: 1

      Have you tried the OpenStreetMap client OSMAnd (https://osmand.net/)? Customizable as you see fit, bunch of extensions, off-line maps and no surveillance by big data brokers (unless you really want). Available for iOS and Android in the respective stores, plus in Amazon and F-Droid. Been using it all over Europe in various modes (driving, boat, bike and skiing) and I'm quite happy with it.

    9. Re:What's an alternative to Google maps? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I've just skimmed over your post and I get the impression you're implying it's still possible.
      I've just done this and it doesn't hold the position, it's a temporary view while holding your fingers down.

      Not OP, I'm not sure which map you're using but the only time it doesn't hold the position is if the forward direction isn't roughly facing forward: i.e. you're not in chase, but rather pointlessly looking behind you.

      Before you continue preaching about how evil developers are, ask yourself why you're the only one who seems to have this problem.

      I navigate using Google Maps in chase mode.

  3. Google must give extensive oversight. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    I realize I should explain my idea in my parent post.

    Google must give extensive oversight into anything connected with the company. It did that in the beginning. It is doing that less and less now, in my opinion.

    Think about one of the overall issues. Google has 85,050 employees. What a HUGE responsibility.

    1. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

      It did that in the beginning.

      Google never did a good job overseeing their app store. It has always been a malwarefest. If anything, it was even worse in the past.

      My spouse has an app business, and I have helped her with releases. It is a real struggle to get an iOS app approved for Apple's app store. But for Google, you just shovel it in. I don't recall them ever rejecting anything, even when we had inadvertent bugs that made the app totally malfunction.

    2. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 4, Informative

      "It is a real truggle to get an iOS app approved for Apple's app store." This should read, "Apple makes unreasonable demands on developers.". Recently they forced me to have a valid URL with a privacy statement for crying out loud. Android users always get the best and newest version of my app because I just don't have time to put up with Apple's BS every time.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    3. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by saloomy · · 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.

    4. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      You talk like I said I couldn't make it through the screening process yet I said no such thing.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    5. Re: Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I don't see how it helps people to have a million boilerplate privacy statements attached to a million apps.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    6. Re: Google must give extensive oversight. by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      I don't see how it helps people to have a million boilerplate privacy statements attached to a million apps.

      They are not boilerplate. Different apps have different privacy statements, and if your app collects info that conflicts with your privacy statement, Apple will reject it.

      I don't believe Google checks privacy statements. It could be a copy-paste of the Gettysburg Address and they would accept it.

    7. Re: Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      95% of all apps have something basic that the developer downloaded off the internet in order to get their app to pass.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    8. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Never ever forget, Google allowed some nobody app developer to pretend to be a major bank and run a pretend banking app, that is exactly how shite Google is. They should have been prosecuted for allowing the app to be distributed from their site, a fake banking app for a major bank. Google is shite, unreliable, privacy invasive, real anal retentive control freaks, well over users, anyone paying them can do anything they like. Forever in Beta with the B I would guess for being forever in Bullshit mode.

      I treat the play store, like it is a playground for corrupt arseholes selling questionable apps. In the rush to load it up with apps, in the most greedy fashion imginable, Google gave not one shit beyond automated scanning of apps, really unreliable. Google play store, playing at providing reliable apps.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    9. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by saloomy · · Score: 2

      I said "If". You just submit the app. It is pretty simple. IF they rejected your app, they tell you why. If you feel they are wrong, appeal (you can). IF you still think they are wrong (or unreasonable for that matter), come here (and elsewhere) and tell us why you think so. Others have done so, and they have changed their ways on numerous occasions. Having a stated privacy statement sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Surely you already had one and just needed it online somewhere?

      I talk like you feel like your code is so good it is beyond code review, and like you feel your ways are beyond reproach. IF that is the case, see above.

    10. Re: Google must give extensive oversight. by saloomy · · Score: 1

      As the developer, you are responsible for what you publish, no matter where you got it from, internet or otherwise. If what you download conflicts with your privacy statement (or other TOS), you should modify the code, or the TOS.

    11. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Google never did a good job overseeing their app store. It has always been a malwarefest. If anything, it was even worse in the past.

      My spouse has an app business, and I have helped her with releases. It is a real struggle to get an iOS app approved for Apple's app store. But for Google, you just shovel it in. I don't recall them ever rejecting anything, even when we had inadvertent bugs that made the app totally malfunction.

      You have to remember Apple started out with a draconian approval process for apps. Google wanted to be the opposite, so they ran an app store that let anyone and everyone in without approvals required.

      So that's why the Google Play Store (Google Marketplace back in the day) was filled with crap - for a $25 one time fee, you could list your app with no oversight. It was only when the amount of malware and crapware in the Marketplace threatened to collapse the entire ecosystem did Google attempt to fix it.

      But the problem is, it's harder to restrict what you have than it is to go more lenient. So Google is having a harder time policing their store and even trying to do a modicum of crapware removal thatn Apple is at slowly loosening the reins and letting things in that would've been rejected before. The only thing Apple has is backlashes when they attempt to enforce rules they didn't use to enforce before.

    12. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Never ever forget, Google allowed some nobody app developer to pretend to be a major bank and run a pretend banking app, that is exactly how shite Google is.

      An anecdote is not data. Don't fall into that trap or your arguments will forever go around in circles as people will show you examples of shitty fraud from other platforms. The best processes in the world will fall to human mistakes. Remember Apple's policy is not to duplicate core functionality in apps, yet they let an app into their store which gave a heart rate through the apple watch and then used touch ID to authorise an invisible $90 transaction from the user's account.

      Now there's plenty of actual data out there on malware on Google's platform. Use that next time. Otherwise it's just a game of pointing out that everything is shit.

    13. Re: Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      That has nothing to do with my point.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    14. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      If you read the privacy statement on every app you install, then wow obviously you are a precious snowflake indeed.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    15. Re:Google must give extensive oversight. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      Well i just copied something off the internet and didn't read it and I'm pretty sure I'm in the company of thousands of developers. They passed it without assessing whether it's valid. so this is the fine quality the apple rules are getting you. All they do is give you the appearance you are protected with no substance.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  4. 20? by Tomahawk · · Score: 2

    That's actually clever, if devious.

    I think I might just bring that list to 20........

  5. Re: Anyone who installs Android apps w/o investig by Tomahawk · · Score: 1

    The ads probably _are_ Google ads...!

  6. google better do a serious house cleaning by FudRucker · · Score: 2

    otherwise google playstore will turn in to a shithole of crapware, and i will abandon my android phone & tablet, and just switch to a dumbphone that only handles phone calls and text msgs, i think there is a niche market for quality cellphones that do only those two functions (phone & txt msgs)

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  7. Despicable, but... by Ormy · · Score: 1

    We could all agree these apps and their authors are despicable. But I'll be honest and say if I had the idea first, had the coding skills to implement it, and made decent money from it I'd have non-zero but very little guilt doing it myself.

    My justification? Nobody is forced to download these apps, anybody with the right knowledge/experience can see what they really are, anybody without those shouldn't be using the device until they do. You wouldn't give anyone a gun before teaching them proper gun safety, an internet device is generally not as dangerous but still needs greater than zero training. Many people use these devices for years and years, but since they don't care to learn anything about how it works they are still at risk.

    Not from being shot (like a gun), but at the very least having lots of their time wasted by multiple ads and invasions of privacy they could easily avoid if they knew how, or at worst having their savings or their identity stolen by scammers or a garden variety data breach (they seem to be weekly now). If you knowingly take that risk, you deserve everything you get.

    I personally would be happy to turn your wasted time into my extra cash, but I wouldn't go as far as taking your money directly, that's just not cricket.

  8. Why is it even that bad? by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't mind using such an app if I liked the ads I saw from it.

    Or if the ads were useful, like the app hunted down coupons related to stores I searched for and took a cut.

    This ad overlay on Google Maps doesn't come anywhere close to me as being as bad as things Google themselves do all the time.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  9. This kind of thing is why I'm stuck with Apple by jeff4747 · · Score: 2

    I'd kinda like to change ecosystems, especially with Apple going insane on prices. But one thing that's keeping me on iOS is Google seems to do a really shitty job curating the Play store.

    Sure, Apple's store isn't perfect, but there seems to be a lot fewer things that are completely garbage or outright malware.

  10. I would not like it by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    If that happened to me I'd be pretty fucking mad

  11. Waze by PeeAitchPee · · Score: 1

    Waze waze waze. Why use anything else?

    1. Re:Waze by sveinki · · Score: 1

      Because OSMAnd [https://osmand.net/] does the job.

  12. dedicated satnav by DrYak · · Score: 1

    that's until the company decides to reinterpret "lifetime" as "until we deprecate the device" which will happen 2 years later after you buy it.

    And because this devices are locked and DRMed to the bone, you won't even be able to find community hacked upgrades as the older dedicated devices (see TomTom between modern NavCore version 10 and up, and the older versions until 9).

    Seems like OpenStreetMaps and community developped apps (by people who actually need and use them and listen to other users) is our only hope.

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
  13. nothing new by sad_ · · Score: 1

    as if other OS's don't have this problem.
    you have these rubbish applications even on Windows, MacOS and sometimes even Linux.
    they bring nothing new to the table in the best case, in the worst case they feed you ads, spy or infect you.

    --
    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.