Fake Chrome App Reportedly Reaches 100K Downloads on Google Play

• Fake Chrome app reportedly reached 100K downloads and appeared as a sponsored Play Store result.
• The 42 MB listing used Chrome’s icon and copied Google’s official app description.
• Testers reportedly found a contact-style app with AI avatars, not a working browser.

The fake Chrome app reported on Google Play reportedly crossed 100,000 downloads while appearing as a sponsored result above the real Chrome browser. The listing used Chrome’s familiar icon and copied the description from Google’s genuine app page, but its developer name was Hizbartech, not Google LLC.

The listing came to attention after a user posted about it on Reddit’s r/browsers community. PiunikaWeb reported that searching for “Google Chrome” did not surface the app in its own test, while searching for the developer name Hizbartech did. The report described the listing as available at the time of its check; its current status is not confirmed here.

Fake Chrome App Used Google’s Branding

The reported copycat was around 42 MB in size. It displayed the official Chrome icon and copied Google’s app description, details that could make the listing look genuine at a quick glance. However, the developer name shown on the listing was Hizbartech.

According to the report, the app first appeared in August under the name “Ball Bounce”, described as a game. It was reportedly rebranded in late September to resemble Google Chrome. That change meant the app’s earlier identity did not match the browser name and branding it later presented.

Testers Reported There Was No Browser Inside

People who installed the app to inspect it reportedly found no web browser. Instead, testers described a contact-style app featuring AI avatars. Some online comments speculated about tracking or information theft, but the reported testing described here does not establish that the app stole information or contained malware. Those claims should not be treated as confirmed findings.

The case is a reminder that an app’s icon, title, description and download count are not enough to confirm its identity. The fake Chrome app reportedly showed 100K+ downloads, but that figure alone did not establish that it came from Google or delivered the browser users expected.

How to Check the Real Google Chrome App

Google’s genuine Chrome app is published by Google LLC. Before installing a browser or any other familiar app, check the listing details rather than relying only on its logo or position in search results. Mobile users can follow these quick checks:

• 🔎 Check the developer name: The official Chrome listing names Google LLC as the developer. Be cautious if a different developer publishes an app using Google branding.
• 🏷️ Compare downloads and reviews: Look at the download count, review quality and app details together. A large download figure alone does not prove that an app is genuine.
• ✅ Open the official listing: Use the official Google Chrome listing on Google Play instead of choosing a lookalike result from search.
• 🧹 Check installed apps: If you or a family member installed the 42 MB Hizbartech copycat described in the report, uninstall it. Check family members’ phones as well.

Google Play Store app listings and verification features are also covered in our article about the Google Play Store verified badge for VPN apps. Even when an app appears in an official store, checking the publisher and the actual app details remains important.

Conclusion

The fake Chrome app reportedly used Google’s branding to attract installs, despite testers saying it did not contain a working browser. Check the developer name before downloading, use the genuine Google LLC listing for Chrome, and remove the reported Hizbartech copycat if it is installed on your phone.

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