Google Removes 224 Android Apps in Major Ad Fraud Crackdown
Google disrupted the 'SlopAds' ad fraud campaign involving 224 malicious Android apps that generated 2.3 billion fraudulent ad requests daily, employing sophisticated obfuscation and steganography techniques to evade detection. The campaign was widespread, with apps downloaded over 38 million times across 228 countries, and used hidden malware modules to simulate legitimate ad interactions, generating significant revenue for attackers. Google has removed the apps and updated protections, but experts warn the threat may re-emerge with new tactics.