SOLVED! - Google Play Services For Instant Apps Virus

Recently, many Android users have been spooked by activities of Google Play services for Instant Apps on their devices which results in discussions about Google Play services for Instant Apps virus. Concerned by the presence of Google Play services for Instant Apps on your phone? Then it’s strongly recommended that you spare a bit of your time to check out this article. Down below is everything you must know about Google Play services for Instant Apps ranging from what it is to how to disable/enable it.

Insights Into Instant Apps

For your information, Instant Apps is a piece of software that allows users to test native applications without the need to download them. By taking advantage of Instant Apps, Android users could avoid the hassles of installation, managing storage space and so on. If Instant Apps is present on your phone, you should see“Try Now” next to “Install” while browsing apps on Play Store. The moment you hit “Try Now”, a virtual version of the app will run and help you decide whether they want to get the full application.

Instant Apps: Is It Risky?

To put it plainly, Google Play services for Instant Apps is not a virus but its operation raises some eyebrows on occasions. In the end, there is no way to be completely secure once it comes to applications that can run without being installed. Some people consider Instant Apps to be a double-edged sword: Users could make use of it to test out new apps but malicious applications may abuse it too.

A List Of Considerations

Security Risk

Researchers revealed a security risk that could be exploited by hackers to steal users’ information with Android 4 in 2013. That vulnerability was not by any means easy to exploit, however, until the introduction of Instant Apps in 2016.

Instant Apps functions by opening the Chromium browser and downloading a small file which is then executed as a native app. Under normal circumstances, the file is immediately deleted after installation. However, hackers may release malicious instant apps that hijack the browser and allow them to see various information such as browser history, authorization tokens, … In 2019, the vulnerability was finally fixed but the whole thing still unnerves today’s Android users as they see Instant Apps.

Permission

Another thing that causes people to be wary of Instant Apps is apps could download by themselves without user input in certain scenarios. The absence of permission is what convinces some people of the danger of using Instant Apps.

Advertisements

On a number of Android devices that feature modified Android versions (Huawei, Tecno, etc), a lot of intrusive ads could show up while people use Instant Apps. The reason is that these modified Android versions tend to contain bloatware – unwanted pre-installed software. The purpose of bloatware is to make money and to provide users with additional software that they might want. They are generally harmless but often result in unwanted advertisements and those prove annoying at times.

When you use Instant Apps, the amount of advertisement you get becomes excessive, especially when they are often unrelated to the app you are trying out.

How To Enable/Disable Instant Apps

If you wish to enable/disable Instant Apps, go through the steps down below:

• Step 1: Open Settings.
• Step 2: Select Google and then Instant Apps.
• Step 3: Toggle on/off the switch. If you enable Instant Apps, accept the terms of use.

Ultimately, the decision to use Google Play services for Instant Apps depends on each user. If you think that the pros of Instant Apps outweigh the cons, feel free to use it as you see fit. All things considered, Instant Apps is still a part of Google and it can be trusted as long as you don’t install suspicious applications.