UK Fire TV Stick users get urgent new warning as surprise block confirmed (original) (raw)
Fire TV Stick users must be on hight alert after a popular app is blocked from Amazon's Appstore.
Fire TV Stick users must be extra cautious right now—especially when installing any new apps onto their devices. It's been confirmed that a widely used tool called "Downloader" was recently suspended from Amazon’s Appstore, and its removal has opened the door to a dangerous copycat scam app designed to take users’ money.
The original issue surfaced over the weekend when Downloader suddenly disappeared from Amazon's online marketplace.
Downloader has been available for almost a decade, and since it launched, it has allowed Fire TV owners to search for and sideload apps not available through official marketplaces.
That's handy for finding additional tools, applications that might not be officially available in certain locations or pre-released versions of software.
However, despite its huge popularity, the app has been hit with a “temporary suspension.” That's according to its developer, Elias Saba.
Saba - who also runs the Fire TV site called AFTVnews - explains that a recent update caused Amazon to flag Downloader as a full web browser. Amazon does not permit third-party browsers on Fire TV devices and it seems that is why it has been blocked.
“Amazon restricts the publication of third-party browser apps on Fire tablets and Fire TV devices," the company confirmed.
Because Downloader has included a built-in browser for nearly a decade, Saba believes the problem stems from the app newly identifying itself as a browser, not from its functionality. His v2.0.2 update removes this browser registration, and he hopes Amazon will approve it in the next few days so the app can return to the Appstore.
While users wait, Saba warns that a fake version of Downloader has appeared and is trying to exploit confused Fire TV owners.
“Do NOT install the app named Downloader for Fire, Browser… That app is a SCAM that tricks you into paying $6.99 per week,” Saba said. He urges users to report it to Amazon.
If you already have the legitimate Downloader installed, don’t delete it—you won’t be able to reinstall it until Amazon restores it. Also, disable Auto Offload (Settings > Applications) so the device doesn’t remove it automatically.
If Amazon approves the fix, Downloader could return to Fire TV devices later this week—but users will need to keep a close eye on the situation.
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