Google Play Store - News & Updates

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BEWARE: After iOS store now more Malware found on Google Play

Symantec has identified a new malware posted to the official Google Play market. The threats were posted as two popular titles, one as “Super Mario Bros.” and the other was packaged as “GTA 3 Moscow City”. Both were posted to Google Play on June 24 and since then have generated in the range of 50,000 to 100,000 downloads.

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What is most interesting about this Trojan is the fact that the threat managed to stay on Google Play for such a long time, clocking up some serious download figures before being discovered. Our suspicion is that this was probably due to the remote payload employed by this Trojan.

This is a technique I had discussed in a blog just about a year ago, whereby the author of a malicious app would break it up into separate, staged payloads in order to avoid detection of anomalies during the automated QA screening process. In the case of Android.Dropdialer, the first stage was posted on Google Play. Once installed, it would download an additional package, hosted on Dropbox, called ‘Activator.apk’.

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This additional package sends SMS messages to a premium-rate number. An interesting feature of the secondary payload is that it prompts to uninstall itself after sending out the premium SMS messages—an obvious attempt at hiding the true intent of the malicious app. The premium SMS is targeting Eastern Europe.

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Source: Symantec Blog
 
Download: Latest Google Play Store v3.8.15

A new Google Play Store update v3.8.15 has just started rolling out to Android devices. The new version updates 3.7.15 from the end of July.

More here..
 
Google Play expands social horizons with official Twitter account

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We know lots of you still use the Twitters for a lot of your social networking needs -- no matter how good Google+ becomes -- and so we bring news of a hot new account that you all should follow. Google Play is widening its horizons, and now has an official Twitter account, @GooglePlay.

The first tweet from Google Play read like this:

Hello World! Follow us for special promotions, exclusive content, updates, and awesomeness from Google Play

We don't know about you guys, but special promotions on its own makes it worthwhile. Hit the twitter link below to get your follow on.

https://twitter.com/googleplay


http://www.androidcentral.com/google-play-expands-social-horizons-official-twitter-account
 
Developers From India Can Now Sell Paid Apps In The Play Store

Following the addition of a number of countries way back in April, Google has updated the Google Play for Developers site to indicate that developers in India can now sell apps on the Play Store. Obviously, this is a big deal. Not only because India is the second-most populous nation on earth, but because mobile technology and software development have absolutely exploded there. Android is absolutely dominating the country thanks to budget handsets.

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Doubtless, many developers in India have greatly anticipated this day. India joins a list that now includes 32 countries, though this is inarguably the biggest addition in some time.


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Update:

Indian Android App developers can now see paid apps on the Google play strore..

Check India added in their supported location : Link
 
Bapun Raz said:
Update:

Indian Android App developers can now see paid apps on the Google play strore..

Check India added in their supported location : Link

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

FAIL!!!!!!!.........Indian users can see paid apps from the day android entered in india......Indian users now can sell there not buy


It is written as Supported locations for merchants
Currently, developers in the below countries may register as Google Checkout merchants and sell paid applications
 
Updated: JustDial App Pulled From Google Play Store; Privacy Concerns?

Update: We’ve received a response from JustDial, saying that Google had asked the company to investigate (problems) before the launch. JustDial says that it’s already in talks with Google to get some clarity on the issue, and that the app will be back soon. However, JustDial did not comment on our query about the app sending user data.

It appears that online and telephone business listings company Just Dial’s Android app has been removed from the Google Play application marketplace. One of our readers pointed out that the JustDial app is no longer available. He also mentions that the app received an update last week, following which it started retrieving and storing the user’s entire phone book, without a warning or disclaimer.

We also tried searching for the app, and were not able to locate it.

According to Google Developer distribution agreement, it can takedown an app if it :

” (a) violates the intellectual property rights or any other rights of any third party; (b) violates any applicable law or is subject to an injunction; (c) is p**nographic, obscene or otherwise violates Google’s hosting policies or other terms of service as may be updated by Google from time to time in its sole discretion; (d) is being distributed improperly; (e) may create liability for Google or Authorized Carriers; (f) is deemed by Google to have a virus or is deemed to be malware, spyware or have an adverse impact on Google’s or an Authorized Carrier’s network; (g) violates the terms of this Agreement or the Developer Program Policies for Developers; or (h) the display of the Product is impacting the integrity of Google servers (i.e., users are unable to access such content or otherwise experience difficulty).

This and other Google program guidelines do not categorically mention that collecting data about users and their contacts without explicit consent leads to suspension, but Google advises developers not to violate user privacy. In one of the developer pages devoted to tools used for collection of contacts data, it says:

“Remember that the user’s contacts data is personal and sensitive. Users are concerned about their privacy, so they don’t want applications collecting data about them or their contacts. If it’s not obvious why you need permission to access their contacts data, they may give your application low ratings or simply refuse to install it.”

It might be possible that several users flagged the application giving the same reason, and Google decided to pull the apps. If the app doesn’t mention that it’s collecting data then that amounts to deceptive behaviour.

Source
 
Now India gone from Supported locations for merchants..
 
Google Play Store Surpasses 25 Billion App Downloads, Has A $0.25 Sale To Celebrate


You may remember that in December of last year, Google announced they had surpassed 10 billion app downloads in the Play Store, and had a $0.10 sale to celebrate. Today, the company is announcing that the Play Store has hit a whopping 25 billion app downloads. It took over 3 years to hit 10 billion; it took just 9 months more to hit 25 billion.


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Accordingly, the Play Store is again having a sale for the next five days, with many products discounted to just $0.25:

Every day you’ll be able to choose from a collection of apps from some of the world’s top developers including Gameloft, Electronic Arts, Rovio, runtastic, Full Fat and more. And all for just 25 cents. We’ll also be offering some special collections like 25 movies you must own, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and our 25 top selling magazines, all at special prices.

There's no word on what specific apps we'll see, but according to the post, we can expect to see the sale go live later today. Be sure to check back, because when we know, you'll know.

Source
 
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