Google Play Early Access Abused to Push Thousands of Deceptive Android Apps

Google Play Early Access Abused to Push Thousands of Deceptive Android Apps Ravie LakshmananSep 10, 2026Mobile Security / Artificial Intelligence Bad actors are misusing Google Play's Early Access program to push deceptive apps that claim to offer money, rewards, casino winnings, and premium content. Early Access apps are apps that haven't been released on the official Android app marketplace. The main idea behind the program is for developers to solicit user feedback for new applications or features they may be working on before their release. One aspect worth highlighting is that users cannot leave public reviews or star ratings for apps that are available in Early Access. This has opened the door to a new kind of abuse where threat…