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Google Bans Cryptocurrency Mining Apps From the Play Store (bleepingcomputer.com) 111

The Google Play Store is no longer welcoming apps that mine cryptocurrencies on users' devices. The new policy plainly states: "We don't allow apps that mine cryptocurrency on devices." As a result, Google will start to remove any app from the Play Store that violates these terms. It will however still allow mining apps that are used to control cryptocurrency mining operations on remote devices -- such as servers or desktops. Bleeping Computer reports: Preventing cryptocurrency mining on Android is crucial because untethered mining operations can easily overheat or destroy batteries -- or even devices if the battery case deforms, leaks, or catches fire. Such scenarios have already happened. Android malware strains like Loapi and HiddenMalware have been known to cause physical damage to infected smartphones. Google didn't publicly announce the policy change, but developers who had apps removed complained on Reddit. Other policy changes were also made, such as the decision to ban apps with repetitive content. You can read the new "Restricted Content" section of the Play Store Policy Center here, and compare it to an earlier version here.
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Google Bans Cryptocurrency Mining Apps From the Play Store

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  • Seriously, why would Google possibly care? In what way does it have any impact whatsoever on the Android Eco-system?

    Who is it hurting to run this software? If someone wants to use their phone to run cycles on mining or watching hard core Japanese porno, who's fucking business is it?

    • Re: (Score:1, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward

      It hurts Google. Cryptocurrency mining is a way for app developers to make money in the place of serving ads.

      The danger of overheating has nothing to do with it.

      • ^ This

    • by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 27, 2018 @05:54AM (#57018004)

      Destroys battery life, causes overheating in devices leading to hardware failures, makes products using their OS run like an Apple device post an obsolescence "update". It wasn't hard really. Now factor in "background" being added to "free" applications/games. See where this is going? Obviously not.

    • by sjbe ( 173966 ) on Friday July 27, 2018 @07:26AM (#57018244)

      Seriously, why would Google possibly care? In what way does it have any impact whatsoever on the Android Eco-system?

      Several ways.
      1) It makes Android less attractive as an ecosystem. (ruins battery life, performance, privacy, etc)
      2) It provides marketing fodder for competitors to use against them
      3) It impacts Google's revenue from their ad business
      4) Many of these apps are obvious attempts at fraud
      5) Liability due to the above issues

      Who is it hurting to run this software?

      Most of the people running it as well as Google and companies depending on the Android ecosystem.

      If someone wants to use their phone to run cycles on mining or watching hard core Japanese porno, who's fucking business is it?

      No one but nothing is preventing you from doing that. Doesn't mean Google is under any obligation to help you do it though. Go ahead and sideload the stuff if it is that important to you. None of us will care I assure you.

    • Here's one possible reason they might care - they may be entering the market, and this would 'conveniently' harm existing currencies that would be in competition with theirs: https://cryptoinsider.21mil.co... [21mil.com]

    • Why should they care? Because if I start noticing a bunch of apps running shit at 100% in the background on my phone all the time or if my phone catches fire, I'm going to pretty much stop buying any app ever again from the Play Store. If the app has to ask for a special permission to take major risks with my hardware, then maybe. But otherwise it's all about trust, and unlike some app stores out there (ahem: Amazon), I actually trust Google a little bit. They seem to be pretty good at keeping outright scam
    • Who is it hurting to run this software?

      Users. Phone damage aside there's pretty much no legitimate idiot who would download this. Most of this software is mining without the user's knowledge.

  • "...developers who had apps removed complained on Reddit"

    Really, THEY complained?! Those poor developers!

  • More proof that so-called "smart" devices are a euphemism for "computers that you do not, and cannot, control." Mr. Stallman gets proved right again and again.
    • Sadly they are. PCs are the only place where users have a decent control about their computer. There's no reason for smartphones not to be this way ..save for the fact that the companies that control them make more money if the users have less control over the device
    • More proof that so-called "smart" devices are a euphemism for "computers that you do not, and cannot, control." Mr. Stallman gets proved right again and again.

      He does, but not by this. You can control your android phone. Just don't connect it to Google. Problem solved. What, you bought an Android phone without checking first if there was AOSP or LineageOS available for it? Are you new?

    • Most people should have a computer that they cannot control. It should definitely be an option.

  • crucial because untethered mining operations can easily overheat or destroy batteries -- or even devices if the battery case deforms, leaks, or catches fire.

    Sorry.... If this results just from the resource usage of the App, then this is not an App issue but a Defective device which lacks the appropriate thermal/discharge rate controls on its batteries that should be recalled and not be allowed to be sold.

    • by Misagon ( 1135 )

      That was my first thought as well, but those devices are already out there.
      In the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco we saw not only that even mainstream manufacturers could make defective devices but also that a large number of users don't turn their devices in despite of the dangers being widely publicised.

      What Google is doing (now) is about "damage control": limiting the extent of the damage.

  • the Electroneum app [google.com] appears to be unaffected, even-though it allows "mobile mining" for ETN coins.
    I mined 100 of those ETN for 1 night with a 1080TI, and with my phone I couldn't even mine 1 for a few days, so I don't know if it is even worth it to waste battery and hinder the phone's performance with such an activity as "mobile mining".
    Thus the quote marks.
  • It seems to me that Google is overstepping their duties. It's logical to ban apps that use the device to mine without telling the user but I don't see any reason to ban apps where the user willingly mines.
    Maybe -as they say in the article- they're doing it to prevent device damage ...but still.
    The problem is that we're giving Apple and Google too much power over our devices. They can basically do whatever they want. I wish an open OS had survived the smartphone wars but, alas, it seems we're stuck with iO
  • Google censors application to cover up design deficiency in manufacturer partner's phones.

    In reality the generic solution is better, let device manufactures set maximum average power draw and throttle apps accordingly when the phone is not connected to an external power supply.

To the systems programmer, users and applications serve only to provide a test load.

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