Chinese Android app developer 'Do Global' banned from Google Play Store

Google is reportedly banning major Chinese Android app developer from its official app store and removing its app from the Google Play Store. The development comes after BuzzFeed News and Checkpoint investigation revealed that the developer was committing ad fraud and concealing app ownership details from users.

The Android developer Do Global owns nearly 100 apps with over 600 million installs, nearly half of which have already been removed from the Play Store, BuzzFeed reported on Friday. "We actively investigate malicious behaviour, and when we find violations, we take action, including the removal of a developer's ability to monetize their app with AdMob or publish on Play," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by the BuzzFeed News.

Last week, BuzzFeed reported that at least six of DO Global's apps in the Google Play store have been fraudulently clicking on ads to generate revenue, and at least two of them contain code that could be used to engage in a different form of ad fraud, according to findings from security and ad fraud researchers Check Point and Method Media Intelligence.

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Check Point on its April 19 report wrote, "In a world where ad revenue can produce a very high income, it's not surprising why malicious actors are after fraudulent activities against ad agencies. "Follow the money" is a good rule of thumb while investigating a malicious campaign." The cybersecurity firm also suggested a few simple steps to protect devices from malicious activities.