Google suspends Chinese e-commerce app Pinduoduo due to security concerns
Google has suspended the work of the Chinese e-commerce application Pinduoduo due to security concerns after the discovery of malicious software in the application outside of the Google Play store. The version of the application outside of Google Play was protected by the Google Play Protect system, which scans Android devices with Google Play services to prevent the installation of potentially dangerous applications.
A representative of Pinduoduo confirmed that Google had also suspended several other applications, but did not provide additional information. The company stated that there were multiple reasons why an application could be temporarily suspended.
The suspension of Pinduoduo’s application caused a 1.8% decrease in the value of its owner, PDD Holdings Promotion, on the stock market.
Pinduoduo is one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms alongside Alibaba Group, JD.com, Vipshop, and Meituan platforms. It sells a wide range of products, including packed foods and drinks, fresh foods, flowers, clothes, shoes, household electronics and much more through a coupon sales system.