Disconnect Mobile App Returns To Google Play Once Again
Wednesday, September 10, 2014:
Disconnect Mobile and the Google Play Store are coming back together
once again. Google removed the malicious tracking and advertising
prevention app, Disconnect Mobile, last month. Now it's back in Google
Play Store again.
On 26 August the app was
removed as it violated Google's developer agreement. Disconnect
co-founder Casey Oppenheim also published the email which was sent to
him by Google. Google said in the email, "After a regular review we have
determined that your app interferes with or accesses another service or
product in an unauthorized manner."
The free app blocks mobile malware and mobile trackers from Android devices. If a paid upgrade is allowed then it also offers protection from “maladvertising” or malware which is getting distributed through advertising networks. Disconnect also includes other privacy
The free app blocks mobile malware and mobile trackers from Android devices. If a paid upgrade is allowed then it also offers protection from “maladvertising” or malware which is getting distributed through advertising networks. Disconnect also includes other privacy
-focused features like a virtual private
network (VPN) app, a search app and a desktop browser privacy add-on.
In the email Google said that the app was held in violation of section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. This section prohibits Android apps hosted in Google Play from interfering with other apps or Android services. Oppenheim defended that the reason behind the removal is “ vague” and “overly broad”. He told CNET that an unofficial communication took place between the two parties but still no satisfactory clarification could be provided for the removal. Oppenheim said, "It was a very draconian process, very vague. We asked for more information, and they didn't provide it."
Google was not available for any comment. So Oppenheim preferred to modify the app so that it doesn't block ads. The old version of Disconnect Mobile had separate paid upgrades for advertising and malware while the new version combined them into one. Disconnect Mobile is not the first privacy app which has run into such dilemma.
In the email Google said that the app was held in violation of section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. This section prohibits Android apps hosted in Google Play from interfering with other apps or Android services. Oppenheim defended that the reason behind the removal is “ vague” and “overly broad”. He told CNET that an unofficial communication took place between the two parties but still no satisfactory clarification could be provided for the removal. Oppenheim said, "It was a very draconian process, very vague. We asked for more information, and they didn't provide it."
Google was not available for any comment. So Oppenheim preferred to modify the app so that it doesn't block ads. The old version of Disconnect Mobile had separate paid upgrades for advertising and malware while the new version combined them into one. Disconnect Mobile is not the first privacy app which has run into such dilemma.
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