Find out why this app is no longer available. See what happened.
With the advent of cell phones, apps have become an increasingly important part of most people's lives. These tools serve a variety of purposes. There are social networks, apps for watching movies, apps for organizing routines, apps for health, and many others.
There are countless apps available on the Play Store, Apple Store, and other online stores these days. However, there is one app that was once quite popular, but can no longer be used today. This app was banned for a very specific reason. Read on to find out which app it is.
Snaptube
Snaptube has long been one of the most popular apps for downloading YouTube videos on Android. First released in November 2014, the app allows you to download videos in resolutions up to 4K, as well as convert your phone’s audio to MP3 and M4A. However, the app was taken offline in 2019 after it was accused of introducing viruses to smartphones and violating Google’s terms of use.
The same applies to other apps that promise to download videos and YouTube music. Google doesn't allow these types of apps to be published on the Play Store, especially after it started providing users with a legal, paid way to download content for offline viewing through a premium subscription.
Why did the app go offline?
Snaptube, created by a Chinese company of the same name, was removed from the Play Store in 2019 after cybersecurity firm Upstream noticed that the app contained malware. For those who don't know, malware is a virus that infects your phone, potentially compromising its security. The software displays invisible ads to generate revenue for developers while trying to sign users up for paid subscription services without their permission.
Another reason is that at the same time, Google began cracking down on apps that could download videos from YouTube. Doing so goes against the platform's terms of use. Furthermore, this is not advantageous for YouTube Premium subscribers, as several platforms offer official ways to do this in their apps.
Today, those who still want to download Snaptube rely on alternative websites that provide APKs for the software. However, in addition to the aforementioned malware that resulted in the removal of the app from the Play Store, it is not recommended to use this feature to install apps, as there is a risk of getting infected by various viruses on your Android.
Even though it was taken offline, Snaptube's fame and use remain to this day. It is worth noting that a 2021 Hulu survey concluded that Snaptube is one of the most dangerous apps on Android. However, despite its many dangers, the program is expected to still be installed on more than 8.6 million phones, all of which are considered infected by security companies.
If you have the app installed on your phone, or know someone who still uses this tool, the best thing to do is uninstall it. You may be running a very high risk of losing your data and stolen files or leaked by criminals.
