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Comment by tapland | Hacker News Reader

I saw a google authenticator copy (using the old icon but named Authenticator) about two weeks ago. It was the top result but an ad and not by Google. Sad I didn't screenshot it, couldn't find it when searching Google Authenticator again.

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Remember Google needs to prevent sideloading for your own good, despite the fact that they can't / won't even keep this out of the Play store.

I mean. The fact that GP couldn't find it again is an indication that they did keep it out, or at least kick it out (and possibly uninstalled it from any users that got scammed by that ad).

Google's anti-sideloading stance is scummy for a lot of reasons, but this in particular is a bad example.

The app icon and name are submitted as part of the app review so there's not really an excuse for this to get through in the first place.

No, I couldn't find it a few seconds later when I realized what I saw. It felt like a case of alt-code naming to prevent showing up in search, unless being presented in the top ad spot.

Yes, theres a similar one for Microsoft Authenticator which obviously tries to con you into installing it by also advertising that it allows you to "sign in to your Microsoft accounts".

It annoys me so much that every authenticator is just called authenicator these, days. like its google authenicator, or microsoft authenicator, not just authenticator

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