Microsoft announced that it has removed more than 1,500 misleading apps from the Windows Store in accordance to the company's new guidelines, Windows Insider reported.
According to Todd Brix, the general manager of Microsoft's Windows App and Store, the crackdown was brought about by the complaints the company received from users.
Many of the users stated they had a difficult time finding the apps they need on the store due to numerous apps with misleading and confusing titles.
"Earlier this year, we heard loud and clear that people were finding it more difficult to find the apps they were searching for; often having to sort through lists of apps with confusing or misleading titles," Brix wrote on the Windows blog.
In March of this year, Microsoft detected several fake apps that mimicked Google's services such as Maps, Search, Voice, Plus and Hangouts. The developer of these dubious apps used the name Google, Inc. while the legitimate company is known as Google Inc.
"We took the feedback seriously and modified the Windows Store app certification requirements as a first step toward better ensuring that apps are named and described in a way that doesn't misrepresent their purpose," Brix stated.
Under the new guidelines, developers must clearly name their apps according to their specific functions. They must also be categorized in the store properly based on their purpose. Lastly, the apps must bear unique icons to avoid being mistaken for other products, according to Tech Times.
Microsoft has already contacted the developers of the misleading apps. It said many of these companies immediately complied with the new requirements and conducted the necessary changes to their apps.
Those who refused to cooperate, however, were kicked out from the online store.
Brix mentioned that Microsoft's review process is still ongoing and asked users for their help in detecting misleading apps.
"The Store review is ongoing and we recognize that we have more work to do, but we're on it," he wrote. No approach is perfect so we encourage people to report any issues they may encounter with Windows Store."