Earlier this year, Apple and Google issued a warning to developers about banned apps that haven’t been updated in a long time. Apple reportedly alerted certain developers that their programs would be deleted from the App Store, according to various reports.

If they hadn’t been updated recently. Nearly 30% of apps on the App Store and Play Store are at risk of being removed, according to a report by analytics firm Pixalate.

A majority of abandoned applications fall into the Education, Reference, and Games categories

In the meantime, categories such as Finance, Health, and Shopping are top in the rankings for their regular updating and innovative nature.

Why are a huge number of banned apps? 

A large number of iPhone and Android banned apps have been banned because they have not been updated in at least two years. Because they are more vulnerable to hacking, these ‘outdated’ apps constitute a serious security concern. According to a new survey, around a third of Apple and Google’s smartphone apps are two years old or older. In terms of statistics, this corresponds to 1.5 million banned apps on iOS and Android combined. These aren’t your typical apps; in fact, several of them are popular among children. Apple and Google have become more stringent in recent months, launching a crackdown on these outdated banned apps and taking action against them.

What Google will do if these apps are not updated as per new guidelines? 

Existing apps that don’t target an API level within two years of the most recent major Android release version will no longer be discoverable or installable for new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than the apps’ target API level starting November 1, 2022. The required timeframe will adjust when new Android OS versions are released in the future.

Google says in their logic that consumers with the most recent devices or those who are fully up to date on Android upgrades expect to get the most out of all of Android’s privacy and security features. By extending our target level API requirements, consumers will be protected from installing outdated apps that may lack these safeguards.

Why has Apple announced the removal of these banned apps? 

Apple has declared that it will delete certain obsolete apps from the App Store to ensure complete security for customers. “App developers whose apps haven’t been updated in three years, or who haven’t achieved the required minimal download criteria – meaning their apps haven’t been downloaded at all or have been downloaded just a few times,” Apple said. Apple monitors such apps as part of the process to verify that they work for the vast majority of users and support the newest security and privacy improvements.

The Google Play store, on the other hand, has the most, with roughly 869,000 apps that do not meet the most recent updates. Not only that, but Google also revealed a new Google Play Store policy that took harsh measures against third-party apps that record calls on Android smartphones. In many places, call recording is prohibited. As a result of this change, third-party apps will not be able to record the call audio stream. The primary fear is that these apps may compromise privacy and security. As a result, Google has chosen to permanently delete such third-party programs.

If any app is removed, will current users be able to access that app?

Apple on its improvement page said, “Yes. That application will remain fully functional for current users. They will not be affected by any interruption of service, and they will still be able to buy from the App Store. However, we recommend that you update that application as soon as possible to ensure that it remains engaging and functional for new and existing customers.”

Which banned apps won’t be affected by the new policy? 

One thing to keep in mind is that neither Apple nor Google can remove banned apps from consumers’ devices once they have been downloaded. They can only delete these programs from the Google Play and Apple App Stores. As a result, it’s critical to double-check any programs that haven’t received an update in a long time, as they could constitute a security risk. The good news about the call recording issue is that it will keep your smartphone’s built-in capability off Google’s radar. This means that pre-installed or system apps with access to the Accessibility API and the ability to record will be unaffected by the new policy.

Conclusion

A mobile application that has been abandoned or that is outdated poses a safety and security risk. To guarantee that users have the most up-to-date privacy and security features, and apps according to their needs, Google and Apple are taking extra steps to remove banned apps that threaten users’ credentials.

Also Read: Apple Store and Google Play may remove over 15 lakh apps; here’s why.