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Google has flagged several apps made by Pinduoduo, a Chinese e-commerce giant with almost 800 million active users, as malware. The apps were found to contain malicious code that could monitor users, according to multiple Chinese security researchers. The company’s official app has been suspended from the Google Play Store while Google investigates the matter further.

Pinduoduo

An anonymous security researcher analyzed the apps and found that they were exploiting several zero-day vulnerabilities to hack users. The malicious apps were not available on Google Play but were found in the custom app stores of major phone manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Google has set Google Play Protect to block users from installing malicious apps and to warn those who have them installed to uninstall them. Ed Fernandez, a Google spokesperson, said, “off-Play versions of this app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect.”

It is important to note that Google Play is not available in China, which is why the malicious apps were not found on the Google Play Store. However, the fact that they were present in the custom app stores of major phone manufacturers raises concerns about their security protocols and screening processes.

Pinduoduo has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. The incident highlights the ongoing threat of malware and the importance of downloading apps only from trusted sources. Users should exercise caution when downloading apps from unknown sources and should ensure that their devices have appropriate security measures in place to protect against malware and other cyber threats.

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