Google Gets Better Discovering Bogus Apps Trying To Fake Their Way To Top Charts

Google announced today the rolling out of its new detection and filtering system an the playstore to crackdown on developers who use illegitimate means to boost their app’s rankings in the store’s top charts, sure you would have noticed how some apps are featured in the store even though some time they don’t seem to actually deserve the top ratings, apps like that do so with fraudlent installs, fake reviews and incentivised ratings, those apps are the ones Google will be cracking down on.

   Already, Google had technology it used to detect these sort of manipulation, the new system is a step forward in terms of its accuracy. Google Search Quality Analyst Kazushi Nagayama and Product Manager Andrew Ahn, noted this type of manipulation violates the Google Play Developer Policy and harms other developers by hindering their chances of being discovered or recommended. Ultimately, they put the end users at risk of making wrong decisions based on inaccurate, unauthentic information” they said.

   It was noted that if an install is conducted with the intention to manipulate an app’s placement on Google Play, Google’s new system will detect and filter it. Developers who exhibit such behaviours could have their apps taken down from the Play Store. Google also suggests developers who use third-party marketing services to check to make sure they engage in legitimate practises.