Google has sounded the alarm over potential malware on several apps made by Chinese ecommerce giant Pinduoduo.
The Play Store operator alerted the users of multiple Pinduoduo apps and suspended the company’s official app.
Pinduoduo commands more than 800 million active users, but in recent weeks multiple Chinese security researchers have accused the company of making Android apps that use malware to monitor users.
Google is investigating the app, according to spokesperson Ed Fernandez.
Fernandez said that “off-Play versions of this app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect,” meaning apps that are not on Google Play.
Google Play Protect is the company’s Android security mechanism, which Google has now set to block users from installing the apps and prompt those who have to uninstall them.
An anonymous security researcher said their analysis found that the apps were exploiting zero-day exploits to hack users, according to reporting from TechCrunch.
Notably, Google Play is not available in China, but Pinduoduo apps are available on the custom app stores of Samsung, Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi, according to reports.
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