Google Removes 224 Android Apps Linked To Massive Ad Fraud Operation: What Should You Do?

Google has banned 224 Android apps from the Play Store after researchers exposed a massive ad fraud scheme. The operation, called SlopAds, had quietly spread across the globe with more than 38 million downloads in 228 countries, a report by Human Security suggested. The scary part is that these apps looked ordinary on the surface but were secretly being used to generate fake ad clicks and impressions in the background. Also Read: High-Risk Alert Issued For Google Chrome Users: Update Your Browser Now

The scale of this operation was huge. At its peak, it was pushing out around 2.3 billion fake ad requests every day, which shows just how large and organised the network had become before it was caught, the report added. Also Read: Gemini Nano Banana AI Image Editor Rolls Out To Google Search And NotebookLM: Here’s What’s New

How SlopAds Worked Behind the Scenes

What made this scheme stand out was its smart design. If you downloaded one of these apps directly from the Play Store, it behaved like a normal app with no suspicious activity. But when the app was installed through a promotional advertisement, it quietly switched modes. In the background, it fetched hidden modules disguised inside harmless-looking image files, opened invisible browsers called WebViews, and began visiting attacker-controlled sites to trigger fake ad impressions and clicks. Also Read: How To Create Unique Rangoli Designs For Diwali Using Gemini Nano Banana AI Tool: Check Prompt

The researchers who uncovered the campaign found that the highest volume of fraudulent traffic came from the United States, followed by India and Brazil. With hundreds of command-and-control servers and promotional domains tied to the network, it was clear that the people behind SlopAds had built it for long-term growth.

As soon as the activity was reported, Google pulled down all the apps linked to SlopAds and flagged them through Play Protect, which is built into Android devices. This means users will now get a warning if any of the affected apps are still installed, along with a prompt to uninstall them. Play Protect will also block similar behaviour even if an app is downloaded outside the Play Store.

What Should You Do?

This entire incident shows how far ad fraud tactics have evolved. Instead of using openly malicious apps, fraudsters are hiding harmful code in everyday-looking apps and activating it only under certain conditions. For Android users, the lesson is simple – always keep Play Protect switched on, avoid installing apps from random ads, and regularly clear out apps you don’t really use.