October 16, 2026
Google has deleted a fake application from its official Google Play store, after it impersonated the name and icon of the Chrome browser, and succeeded in obtaining more than 100,000 downloads before it was detected.
According to a report published by the “PhoneArena” website, the fake application appeared parallel to the original version of the “Chrome” browser in the search results, which raised serious concerns about misleading users, and prompted a number of them to issue warnings on the “Reddit” platform.
The data showed that the application was published under the developer’s name “Hizbartech,” and was originally a game known as “Ball Bounce,” before the developer changed its visual identity and name on September 30 to match the official browser.
One of the users who installed the application reported that he was surprised by an interface that was completely different from Internet browsers. He was asked to choose an avatar, and an interface similar to chat applications would later appear to him, including characters designed by artificial intelligence that would respond randomly to messages.
While no conclusive evidence has been recorded confirming the application’s involvement in data theft or that it contains malicious software, its impersonation of a popular browser has raised serious questions about the efficiency of Google Play’s protection systems in monitoring applications that make radical modifications to their identity and functions after their approval and publication.
After his matter was revealed, Google quickly removed the application permanently from the store, in a step that reminded us of the need to be careful, verify the identity of developers, and carefully review the details of applications before downloading them, even from official platforms.
