Google’s Early Access is creating a blind spot for malicious apps

Google’s Early Access program is meant to give developers a place to release unfinished apps, gather feedback and handle bugs before a full launch.

But new research from Bitdefender Labs suggests the feature may also be giving potentially deceptive applications an unusual advantage, as users cannot publicly rate or review an app while it remains in Early Access.

An analysis of Google Play applications installed by Bitdefender users identified thousands of Early Access apps that appeared to include fake casino and reward games, potentially misleading utilities and applications using recognizable third-party trademarks.

Many were also promoted through TikTok, Facebook, and other social platforms, including advertisements featuring AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities and other public figures.