Digital marketplace

Last Updated 6/4/25

Definition: Online stores and distribution platforms where software applications, games, and digital tools are made available for download to consumers.

Mitigation Strategies:

Know your customer (KYC) Transparent feedback and reporting Prioritized reporting Safety onboarding & awareness training Update ranking model

Synonyms

App store, Software marketplace, Digital distribution platform

Examples

Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Microsoft Store, Roblox Marketplace, Samsung Galaxy Store, Steam

Description

These platforms serve as critical gatekeepers that can prevent the distribution of harmful applications, particularly stalkerware and surveillance tools. Official store apps show much better safety practices than “sideloading” stores, but some harmful apps circumvent these protections by instructing users to disable security features like Google Play Protect (Maier, 2025).

References

Maier, E.-M., Tanczer, L. M., & Klausner, L. D. (2025). Surveillance Disguised as Protection: A Comparative Analysis of Sideloaded and In-Store Parental Control Apps. Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies, 2025(2), 107–124. https://doi.org/10.56553/popets-2025-0052

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