Google Pulls 115 Android Apps Tied to Ad Fraud Scheme Affecting 25M Devices

After detecting the fraud operation in September of last year during a regular monitoring process, IAS Threat Lab followed its proliferation before it reached its peak in December. Google instigated its own investigation into the apps, and eventually, it pulled the fraudulent apps from the Play Store. Plus, a security tool called Google Play Protect will automatically disable Genisys-affiliated apps—even if they come from outside the Play Store—and alert users in the future if they interact with such an app. The organizations claim they’ve reduced Genisys-related bid requests by over 95%.

“Bad actors are constantly changing tactics, which is why we collaborate with IAS and others across the industry to disrupt fraud networks,” a Google spokesperson told ADWEEK. The spokesperson added that the removal of the affected apps is intended to help “protect people and businesses from abuse,” but declined to comment further on the record.

Including Genisys, Google pulled over 870 Android apps associated with at least three large-scale ad fraud schemes within the last year.

The AI-generated domains at the heart of the Genisys operation signal a sea change; next-generation ad fraud schemes will “absolutely” be enabled by AI, Shiravi said. It’s a summons the media industry will have to answer. 

The IAS Threat Lab, for its part, claims to be actively preparing, according to Vidhya Rohini Raman, the division’s senior director of data science and engineering. “We are simultaneously developing product to detect low-quality generative AI content and integrating it into our core product ecosystem,” she said, “so our advertisers will be able to benefit from improved detection and avoidance capabilities, and that, in turn, will help them focus on high-performing media.”