The mobile app industry has witnessed significant developments in recent months, encompassing legal actions, security concerns, and the emergence of innovative platforms.
In October 2024, a U.S. federal judge mandated that Google overhaul its Android app store to foster competition and dismantle its alleged monopoly. The ruling required Google to open its Play Store to third-party app stores and make its Android app library accessible to rivals. Google was given until November to comply, though it planned to appeal the decision. The injunction also prohibited Google from revenue sharing and exclusive deals related to its Play Store for three years. This decision followed an antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of major tech companies' practices.
In the realm of security, a substantial ad fraud operation named "SlopAds" was uncovered by Human's Satori Threat Intelligence team. This campaign led to the removal of 224 malicious apps from the Google Play Store, which had been downloaded over 38 million times globally, primarily affecting users in the U.S., India, and Brazil. The apps employed advanced obfuscation techniques to evade detection, only becoming malicious when installed through scammer-directed ads. These apps secretly downloaded malware fragments hidden in PNG images using steganography, which reassembled into the "FatModule" malware, covertly generating fraudulent ad revenue. Although the apps have been removed and Google Play Protect now warns users to uninstall any still on devices, users are advised to remain vigilant and consider using antivirus and identity protection services.
On the regulatory front, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority initiated investigations into Google's Android and Apple's iOS mobile ecosystems under new digital market rules aimed at curbing abuses by Big Tech. The investigations assessed whether these ecosystems should be designated as having "strategic market status," which would mandate changes in their practices. The CMA examined potential anti-competitive behaviors, such as favoring their own apps, bundling pre-installed applications, and imposing unfair terms on app developers. Both companies expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigations.
In the realm of innovation, Haystack News, formerly known as Haystack TV, rebranded and launched an interactive news ticker on its app. The company, founded in 2013, offers a free ad-supported streaming service for local, national, and international news videos available on smart TVs, over-the-top platforms, and mobile apps. Haystack News uses data from each user—such as location, topics of interest, and favorite publishers—to create a personalized playlist of short news clips. The platform also hosts live channels from local, national, and international news outlets.
Additionally, Inshorts, a news aggregator and content distribution company based in India, reported operating revenue of 181 crore in the fiscal year 2024, with a net loss of 228 crore, a 26% reduction in losses compared to the previous fiscal year. The company primarily operates on an advertising-based revenue model and has more than 10 million app users.
These developments underscore the dynamic and evolving nature of the mobile app industry, highlighting ongoing legal challenges, security concerns, regulatory scrutiny, and the continuous emergence of innovative platforms.
