Google announced in July that it would ban the various cryptocurrency mining apps that existed in Google Play Store. But, it wasn’t enough to stop crypto traders, investors and enthusiasts from using them because some of the apps remained in the Play Store despite the ban. In fact, JSEcoin was able to launch one of its crypto mining apps after the declaration of the ban. This app, like many other profitable crypto mining apps, allowed direct and remote mining capability, something that contradicts the updated privacy policy of Google.
A brief on the updated privacy policies
Google is known for regularly updating their privacy policies. In addition to the current policies, they come up with new ones geared toward creating a better and safer platform for their users. Soon after JSEcoin launched their crypto mining app after the ban, Google updated the policies that removed the said coin. It was a strong message sent to all the companies that were looking to develop crypto mining apps. Google clearly stated that they would not support any crypto mining app even if they required low CPU consumption. A subsequent update states that Google will not allow any user to mine cryptocurrencies on their mobile phones.
Prevalence of mining apps despite the ban
Surprisingly enough, there are still some apps that continue to exist in Play Store despite the ban from Google. MinerGate, one of the most popular crypto mining apps, already had more than 1,000,000 users. The app has only been launched a year back and it gained immense popularity with over a million downloads in one year. It allows the users to mine several CPU-friendly coins and privacy-oriented Monero coins from their mobile devices.
There are other apps that survived the sharp blade of Google but not for long. Every app related to crypto mining still found on Google Play Store have been given 30 days to ensure that they comply with Google’s new privacy policies. If they are not able to comply to the updated terms, they will be removed. Many investors took this as a red flag, prompting them to shift their focus to crypto trading platforms like Bitcoin Profit to continue generating income.
No crypto mining in Chrome extensions
The decision to ban crypto mining apps was long overdue. Back in April 2018, Google announced that it would remove all the mining extensions from the Google Web Store. The biggest reason for this was that more than 90% of the companies failed to comply with the privacy rules and policies. Also, there were mass-scale reports of malicious “cryptojacking” that took place because of the extensions. Users lost money left, right and center. Prioritizing the safety and security of their users, Google has taken the necessary measures to eradicate these cyber risks.
The policy changes have been a headache for the creators of crypto mining apps. It is a necessary challenge that they must comply with, and a battle that may prove difficult to win against such a corporate giant as Google.
