Over the past year, Google deleted over 300,000 apps due to policy violations involving fraud, scams, or security concerns. Meanwhile, Apple targeted and removed nearly 40,000 apps for similar fraudulent behaviour. This is based on a recent study conducted by Surfshark.
Does this imply that fraudulent applications may be on our phones?
In addition, in early 2025, Apple removed 137,000 apps from the EU App Store to comply with DSA Regulations. This followed a trend from 2024, when Google and Apple combined deleted four million apps from their app stores. Google removed an average of 11,000 apps daily, primarily due to privacy and security breaches (55%), while Apple removed approximately 200 apps daily, mainly targeting outdated software (51%) and fraudulent behaviour (46%).
According to Sarunas Sereika, a cybersecurity expert at Surfshark, this digital purge goes unnoticed by the public. While it may create the illusion that every app we download is safe, the reality is a bit more complex.
“It’s a staggering digital purge that goes unnoticed by the public. While it may create the illusion that every app we download is safe, the reality is a bit more complex,” Sereika observes.
“Here’s the unsettling truth. Many of these malicious apps were already on millions of devices before they were caught and removed. Even though our study revealed that Apple rejected 25% of app submissions, while Google Play maintained a lower rejection rate of 10%, the presence of an app in an official store often creates a false sense of security, making users believe that every download is safe. In reality, dangerous apps often slip through standard checks, hiding in plain sight, and in some cases, they return under new disguises, re-uploaded by attackers who exploit weaknesses of these well-known app stores,” comments Sereika.
In 2024, Google Play’s proactive measures led to the removal of nearly four million applications, equating to approximately 11,000 app removals per day. A significant majority of these removals (55%), were due to violations of data protection and privacy policies. In contrast, Apple’s App Store demonstrated a much lower volume of app removals in the same year, with just over 80,000 apps removed, which averages out to about 200 removals daily. This figure represents a considerable reduction compared to 2022, when Apple removed over 186,000 applications from its App Store.
How can we ensure that the apps we download are safe?
“As the app ecosystem continues to grow, so does the threat landscape. Cybercriminals are no longer relying on basic techniques, they are now using advanced tools, such as artificial intelligence, to create apps quickly and bypass traditional detection methods. These malicious apps often mimic legitimate ones, making it increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between safe and harmful downloads,” Sereika determines. “Even though Google and Apple are actively monitoring and removing unsecured apps from their stores, the responsibility also falls on users to practice safe downloading habits. This includes checking app permissions, reading reviews, and sticking to well-known developers. Additionally, installing security software and keeping devices updated can offer an added layer of protection,” Sereika adds.
