Archive · 20 Sep 2025
Google Disrupted 'SlopAds' Android App Ad Fraud Campaign
Imagine sneaky ads that hide inside harmless-looking apps on your phone.
These ads were part of a scheme called SlopAds.
When people downloaded these apps, they secretly showed fake ads to make money for the people behind them.
These apps used hidden tools to trick the system and steal data.
The apps were downloaded millions of times across many countries.
Now, Google has removed the apps, but the creators might try again with different tricks.
Researchers found and disrupted the SlopAds ad fraud operation.
The campaign involved over 224 apps on the Google Play Store.
These apps had over 38 million downloads across 228 countries.
The malware, called FatModule, used hidden WebViews.
Google has removed the apps and updated Play Protect.
- Who
- Researchers at HUMAN discovered and disrupted the campaign.
- What
- A large-scale ad fraud campaign named SlopAds.
- When
- Recently
- Where
- On the Google Play Store
- Why
- To generate ad revenue through fraudulent means.
- Affected Apps
- 224+
- Total Downloads
- 38 million+
- Affected Countries
- 228
- Daily Requests
- 2.3 billion
- Primary Source of Traffic
- United States (30%)
- Malware Name
- FatModule