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Guideline library
Google PlayTrust & Safety

Hostile DownloadersHostile downloaders

What this guideline means

Apps that exist primarily to download and install other applications, especially without clearly disclosing that behavior before the user installs them, are treated as a distinct malicious pattern separate from ordinary malware.

Why apps actually get flagged

Often seen in "optimizer" or "cleaner" utility apps whose actual function, once installed, is silently prompting the install of several unrelated apps rather than doing the advertised cleanup.

A real example

"Your app's primary function is to download and install other apps without adequately disclosing this behavior, per the Hostile Downloaders policy under Mobile Unwanted Software."

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