Reports from multiple online forums reveal an intriguing development where Huawei smartphones are erroneously classifying the Google app as a virus when installed on their devices. A Reddit post, originally featured on 9to5Google, showcased a warning that emerged on a Huawei P30 flagship phone, which is approximately four years old, declaring, "Security threat. Google appears to be affected. Immediate uninstallation is advised." The notification comes complete with a button for users to promptly remove the app.
To investigate the matter, the owner of the Huawei P30 performed a device scan and discovered no signs of viruses. Another Reddit user experienced a similar message on their Huawei P30 Lite. They conveyed their confusion, stating, "Just got it as well, Huawei P30 Lite. The peculiar part is that I don't even use Google, so I was quite alarmed. I've never encountered an issue like this before. Considering we all received this message around the same time, it's presumably related to an update or a similar event."
In a rather unexpected twist, Huawei categorizes the Google app as a TrojanSMS-PA virus. Trojans are a type of malware that cloak themselves as legitimate applications to trick users into installing them. Once installed, such malware can grant the attacker the same level of control over the device as the legitimate user, potentially leading to unauthorized access. Certain Trojans are specifically designed to pilfer login information used to access banking and financial apps, with the aim of infiltrating the target's bank account and causing financial havoc.
Another screenshot demonstrates a warning message asserting that the Google app is contaminated. Huawei's cautionary message goes a step further by alleging that the app is identified for actions such as sending SMS messages privately, enticing users to make payments through adult content, conducting private downloads and installations of apps, and pilfering private information. Such actions could result in property damage and privacy breaches, making the recommendation to uninstall the app immediately.
It is important to note that Google apps are not typically accessible on newer Huawei devices due to the imposed restrictions. As a result, Google has refrained from commenting on this peculiar situation. Considering the unanimous acknowledgment that the Google app is not a virus, the responsibility for this anomalous development likely rests with Huawei.
While it appears improbable that Huawei is deliberately attempting to tarnish Google's reputation, it seems more plausible that an unintended glitch within Huawei's software is causing it to misidentify the Google app as a security threat. This incident draws parallels to an occurrence from the previous week when Google Play Protect mistakenly marked Samsung Messages and Wallet apps for uninstallation in an attempt to prevent malware infiltration on Android devices.