Google is working on improving the integrity of the Play Store, adding new restrictions and safeguards to developer accounts. Specifically, the tech giant announced that Google Play Store developers will soon have to verify email and phone number and provide additional information, such as a physical address, in an effort to strengthen security and ensure that accounts are created by “real people.” Developers will also have to use two-step verification.
The company said it is making these changes to keep Google Play safe, but also to better serve its developer community and to ensure that each account is created by a real person with real contact information.
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As The Record, the announcement coincides with the emergence of an industry of holiday home sellers who will create large volumes of developer accounts for others to use to upload malware and other unwanted apps to the Play Store. The Record shared a screenshot of a post on a hacking forum showing these accounts being sold for $89 each.
At the same time, requiring two-step verification will make it harder for malicious actors to break into and steal legitimate developer accounts. This also mirrors a similar change the search giant announced for regular Google accounts earlier this year, where it will now enable two-factor authentication (2FA) by default.
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The changes are significant compared to Google’s current developer account policies, which only require new signups to provide an email address and phone number. Information like a physical address “will not be public,” the company says, and is intended solely to “help us verify your identity and communicate.”
Google is rolling out the new requirements gradually. It said that starting today, account holders will have the option to set their account type to personal or business, as well as verify their contact information. Additionally, in August, all new sign-ups will be required to follow these same steps when creating their accounts and use two-step verification. Later this year, the changes will be fully implemented for all existing accounts.
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The changes come amid a broader effort to crack down on scammy apps on the Play Store, which will prohibit developers from using “cheap” tactics in their listings to encourage users to install apps. App listings will no longer be able to use flashy features like all-caps or emojis in their titles or include phrases like “Download Now.”
Source of information: theverge.com
