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Fake WhatsApp app tricks more than a million users

What happened?

Android users downloaded a fake version of WhatsApp more than a million times before Google spotted the malicious app and removed it.
The fake app, called Update WhatsApp Messenger, was live on the Google Play store and its use of the WhatsApp logo looked enough like the real thing to convince millions of users. The app spoofed WhatsApp’s developer ID by simply registering the same name – WhatsApp Inc – with a space at the end, so it looked identical to users. Additionally, it had a four-star rating and plenty of reviews, so it’s no wonder it managed to fool so many people.

Once downloaded, the fake version of WhatsApp hid behind a blank icon on phones’ home screens. The dodgy app was malicious, but its only effect was to serve advertising to make money, rather than hoovering up user data or anything more dangerous.
Researchers at security firm Avast investigated further, revealing that there are plenty of other fake apps pretending to be the legitimate messaging app in the Google Play store. This isn’t the first time the Google Play store has been hit by malicious applications and a quick glance at the app market reveals major brands such as Facebook are still being spoofed by dodgy duplicates. 

How will it affect you?

If you already have WhatsApp installed, it will automatically update when a new version becomes available – you don’t need to go hunting through the Google Play store for it. Whether you’re installing WhatsApp for the first time or downloading it again because you’ve got a new phone, make sure you’re choosing the genuine article by looking closely at the developer name, screenshots and logo. For WhatsApp, it should – if Google is doing its job correctly – be the first one listed.

Another indicator is the number of downloads – fake apps may get thousands of false reviews and downloads, but it’s hard to hit a billion unless you’re legitimate (although the million in this case is definitely worrying). It’s tougher for less popular apps. There are many other apps and brands being spoofed on Google Play, and you may not be as familiar with their logo. Or the developer may not be one you’ve heard of – it’s easy enough to recognize Facebook as the listed developer of its Messenger app, but you probably won’t be familiar with the developer of
a retailer or restaurant app.


If you’re ever in doubt, head to the website of the brand or app in question, which is likely to have a link to the official download page on Google Play. If you downloaded the fake WhatsApp app but can’t find it for removal, head to Settings, then Apps to see a list of everything you’ve downloaded so you can uninstall unwanted entries.

What do we think?

Google needs to clean up its Play store, and fast. Of course, users need to take responsibility and pay attention when installing apps, but we’ve been repeatedly told that Android apps downloaded from the official store are safe, yet a million downloads of the fake WhatsApp version proves otherwise.

Although Google promptly cleaned up the listing for WhatsApp, a quick search for Facebook’s Messenger app reveals a similar problem that Google has failed to address, which is shameful. Because although the fake WhatsApp wasn’t particularly dangerous – it simply showed advertising for profit – other fakes have caused far more damage, taking over phones to mine cryptocurrencies or harvest bank details.

It’s a huge embarrassment for Google. The company is developing some of the most advanced artificial intelligence in the world, including driverless cars that can halt to avoid a pedestrian stepping into the street, yet it can’t spot duplicate apps stealing a popular developer’s logo? We’re not impressed.

Even if Google can’t automate its way out of this problem, it should hire a couple of staff to check its top 10, 20 or 30 apps every day to remove spoof versions, or recruit more staff to approve apps from unknown developers before they go live. Anything less is putting its users – and the company’s reputation – at risk.