Users of certain mobile phones are being warned against downloading an app. Google has advised Android users to avoid the Chinese shopping app Punduoduo after malware was discovered in some versions.
This has led to Google suspending the Punduoduo app on Google Play store due to "secruity concerns". It comes after concerns were raised about TikTok - which is also Chinese-owned - posing a potential national security threat.
According to Manchester Evening News, some people have even alleged that the app could be used to 'spy' on users while the British government has outright banned TikTok on any government devices this week.
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Pinduoduo is an e-commerce app in China known for providing discounts if users team up to buy multiples of an item. Google warned users on Tuesday (March 21) to uninstall any Pinduoduo app not downloaded from its own Play store.
In a statement, Google said: "Google Play Protect enforcement has been set to block installation attempts of these identified malicious apps. Users that have malicious versions of the app downloaded to their devices are warned and prompted to uninstall the app."
Although the app has been suspended on Google Play Store, it is still available for Apple users and can be downloaded via the IOS store.
In a statement, Pinduoduo said that Google had not shared more details with the company beyond informing it that the current version of its app was "not compliant with Google’s policy". "We strongly reject the speculation and accusation that Pinduoduo app is malicious just from a generic and non-conclusive response from Google," Pinduoduo said.
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