If you search for ‘microsoft authenticator’ on the Google Play Store, you’d expect that app to be the top result. But you’d be overlooking Google’s unquenchable thirst for ad money. As the screenshot right shows, the top result is actually a ‘sponsored’ listing for ‘Authenticator app’ 1 .
We can understand it appearing as a result when searching generally for ‘authenticators’ – apps that give you two-factor codes for signing in – but not when looking for a specific app like Microsoft’s. Poor show, Google. It’s made worse because its logo 2 could easily be mistaken for Microsoft’s official tool 3 . If that’s a coincidence, I’m a purple giraffe.
The app is made by SafeAuth, owned by Hong Kong firm Brilliant App. You couldn’t get a more misleading name if Ratners relaunched as Priceless Jewellery. It’s filled with unskippable ads and tries to suck you into a subscription almost immediately.
Reviews on its Play Store listing (www. snipca.com/52505) look suspiciously lopsided – loads of five stars, many others giving just one star 4 , and hardly any in between, despite the app having been downloaded 10 million times. I know which set of reviews I believe.