Hundreds of thousands of apps have been wiped from Apple and Google stores, though millions of users had already installed them; how safe are our app downloads?
In early 2025, Apple confirmed the removal of 137,000 apps from its EU App Store in line with new Digital Services Act (DSA) requirements. This is only a fraction of a bigger global clean-up.
In 2024 alone, both tech giants deleted nearly four million apps combined, a digital purge that many users never notice. Android dominates the global mobile OS market with a 72% share, while iOS accounts for 27% (Statcounter, July 2025).
With billions of users relying on Google Play and the App Store daily, the sheer volume of takedowns reveal how broad the issue is.
Google was the lead here, removing about 11,000 apps every single day, mostly due to privacy and security breaches. According to its Transparency Report, 55% of these removals were linked to privacy and data protection violations, 16% to ineligible content, 15% to defective data, and 9% to scams or fraud.
Apple, in contrast, averaged 200 removals per day, with most linked to outdated software (51%) or fraudulent activity (46%).
“It’s a staggering digital purge that goes unnoticed by the public. While it may create the illusion that every app we download is safe, the reality is a bit more complex,” said Sarunas Sereika, cybersecurity expert at Surfshark.
Fraudulent Apps Still Slip Through
Surfshark’s analysis shows the removals were not just about bugs or technical issues. Google deleted more than 300,000 apps in one year for fraud, scams, or security violations. Apple also targeted almost 40,000 apps over similar issues.
Developers from Vietnam (23%), China (18%), Pakistan (11%), the United States (9%), and India (6%) made up the majority of fraud-related removals on the App Store, showing a concentration in Asia.
But here’s where it becomes worrying: many of those apps had already reached millions of devices before they were flagged.
“Here’s the unsettling truth. Many of these malicious apps were already on millions of devices before they were caught and removed. Even though our study revealed that Apple rejected 25% of app submissions, while Google Play maintained a lower rejection rate of 10%, the presence of an app in an official store often creates a false sense of security, making users believe that every download is safe.
“In reality, dangerous apps often slip through standard checks, hiding in plain sight, and in some cases, they return under new disguises, re-uploaded by attackers who exploit weaknesses of these well-known app stores,” Sereika explained.
This is an ecosystem where attackers exploit weaknesses in oversight, using advanced methods, including artificial intelligence, to design apps that appear legitimate, only to steal data or scam users once installed.
Apple reported terminating nearly 147,000 developer accounts in 2024, up 25% from the previous year, while Google cut off about 155,000 accounts. Yet malicious developers often re-emerge under new identities, highlighting the cat-and-mouse dynamic between regulators and attackers.
Apple’s removals have actually dropped compared to 2022, when it wiped more than 186,000 apps from its store. Google, however, has become far more aggressive in its enforcement, leading to mass takedowns that reflect the scale of the threat.
The challenge, according to experts, is that malicious developers adapt faster than security systems can respond. Fake apps often mimic popular ones and reappear under slightly altered names or new developer accounts.
What Users Can Do
While both companies highlight their monitoring efforts in transparency reports, experts warn that the burden is partly on users.
“Even though Google and Apple are actively monitoring and removing unsecured apps from their stores, the responsibility also falls on users to practice safe downloading habits. This includes checking app permissions, reading reviews, and sticking to well-known developers. Additionally, installing security software and keeping devices updated can offer an added layer of protection,” Sereika added.
The numbers show that just because an app is available on official stores does not mean it is safe. With millions of apps created and uploaded, being cautious is highly essential.
