Mass app deletion coming to Android phones imminently

Tech giant Google is about to purge some of the most annoying — and dangerous apps from its popular Play Store.

A mass purge of dodgy apps on Android phones is imminent.

Google has confirmed it will be enforcing new policies effective from August 31, with apps that don’t meet guidelines to be deleted from its Play Store.

There are about three million apps currently listed on the store.

The tech giant is hoping the changes will provide users with a more “stable, responsive, and engaging” experience.

“Apps that crash, do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behaviour that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play,” the company said.

Google is cracking down on dodge apps in the Play Store. Picture: iStock

Useless apps

One area in Google’s crosshairs is apps that have limited functionality or content – essentially useless apps that can clog up your phone.

Apps that commonly violate this guideline include those “without app-specific functionalities, for example, text only or PDF file programs”.

Also in the firing line are apps with “very little content and that do not provide an engaging user experience, for example, single wallpaper apps” and those that are “designed to do nothing or have no function”.

Broken apps

Another category of apps that face the chop are those with broken functionality.

“We don’t allow apps that crash, force close, freeze, or otherwise function abnormally,” Google said.

These include apps that don’t install properly, or fail to load after set-up.

Apps that are often unresponsive will also be wiped from the store.

Malware and spyware

Additionally, Google has new software development kit (SDK) and malware policies aimed at stopping apps with malware and spyware from getting into the ecosystem.

Malware is software that is “unsafe or unwanted” and can “steal personal info or harm your device”.

Spyware is an app or code that collects, withdraws or shares user or device data that isn’t needed for the app to function.

In announcement in July, the company said it had updated its requirements for SDKs, warning about potential violations of its spyware policies.

Google has also widened the scope of what is considers inappropriate content, now including vape products (e-cigarettes).

App developers will also be required to remove dodgy third-party code as part of an updated malware policy.

Google has a simple malware policy: “devices should be free from malicious behaviours (for example, malware)”.

However, the firm has been fighting a constant battle against dangerous software.

Bleeping Computer recently reporting that 90 apps with malware and adware were installed 5.5 million times through Google Play, including Trojan virus banking app Anatsa which downloaded 150,000 times.

Originally published as Mass app deletion coming to Android phones imminently