Security News > 2023 > March > Google suspends top Chinese shopping app Pinduoduo

Google has suspended Chinese shopping app Pinduoduo from its Play store because versions of the software found elsewhere have included malware.

Interestingly, Google told Bloomberg versions of Pinduoduo hosted on outside Play were the source of the infected software, yet it chose to ban the app from the Play store and users of Android devices not to run the apps.

Roid can of course run multiple app stores, which matters in China because the Google Play store is inaccessible within the Great Firewall.

It's entirely possible that someone has poisoned versions of Pinduoduo's apps found on one or more Chinese app stores, or is circulating.

Whatever the source of the malware, Google banning a Chinese app is bound to go down badly in the Middle Kingdom.

The impact of the decision also buttresses arguments made by both Google and Apple that their monopoly positions on app stores and payments protect consumers.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/03/21/google_suspends_pinduoduo/