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Today I came across an Android app which is misusing Stack Overflow's logo and name in the Google Play Store.

enter image description here

Users have reported regarding the security issues they have faced and the developer has given the same reply for almost all the queries.

The logo and name of the app can make someone believe it is legitimate. I have flagged it as inappropriate, but no action has been taken so far.

Staff and Moderators, kindly look into it.

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  • 1
    This is up to Google to remove, if they don't care to have malicious apps in their store, very little SE can do.
    – Shadow Wizard
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 7:57
  • 27
    @ShadowWizardIsVaccinatedV3 SE can file a legal trademark complaint against the app and get it taken down.
    – Sonic the Anonymous Hedgehog
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 7:58
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    @ShadowWizardIsVaccinatedV3 I think SE can file a DMCA notice as they infringe on the copyrighted logo.
    – Luuklag
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 7:58
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    In the meanwhile we can all report the app as "impersonating" or something along those lines.
    – Luuklag
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 8:00
  • @Luuklag The Stack Overflow logo doesn't meet the threshold of originality (in the US at least) and is therefore in the public domain. But the screenshots in the listing do seem to contain content copyrighted by SE.
    – smitop
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 11:48
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    Here’s another one: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sanson.stackexchange
    – Emil Jeřábek
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 12:34
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    @EmilJeřábek no, this one is fine. It clearly says "A UI app for StackOverflow users" and has no ads, developer does not profit from it. The one reported in this question try to imposter itself as the official SO app, and the developer makes money from ads inside.
    – Shadow Wizard
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 13:06
  • Google tests applications before offering them on their website, each browser must be approved to access Google login, if you have notifications turned on you get one when a previously unused browser is authenticated, these are expected: support.google.com/googleplay/answer/… --- A trademark misuse and a privacy concern are two different things, there's nothing to support the second.
    – Rob
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 14:41
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    @Rob It's fairly obvious this is malware stealing credentials. On Android phones, you have to be logged in with a Google account. You don't provide your password to the apps. Legitimate ones use Google's services to authenticate you. Hell, even on my iPhone I can use the Google account for my email to "login with Google" and not provide my password an additional time.
    – ColleenV
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 14:44
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    @V2Blast why not make it status-completed? The app appears to have been deleted since.
    – Luuklag
    Commented Mar 22, 2022 at 19:25
  • Similar on MSO (in the same time frame): Is this app a legitimate Stack Overflow app?
    – This_is_NOT_a_forum
    Commented Mar 23, 2022 at 15:30

2 Answers 2

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Yeah, please do not install this app. Our Trust and Safety team is aware and is following up on this.

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flag app

Enough of these, and hopefully someone in Google will notice and nuke this out of orbit.

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