Days after being sued for not requiring a password when making in-app purchases, Google has rolled out an update to Google Play that will hopefully make it harder for junior to rack up hundreds of dollars worth of micro-transaction purchases within Candy Crush.
As noted by Android Police, version 4.6.16 provides users with several options for how they can make in-app purchases on Android devices.
Going forward, Android users can opt to require a password for every purchase made, allow for purchases within a 30-minute window after a password is entered, or ban purchases altogether. When you install an app, meanwhile, the permissions menu will tell you if a particular app includes in-app purchase options. Make your choice in Settings > User Controls > Password.
Other changes in this update include the ability to mass install apps, a new slideout navigation drawer for the Settings and Help menus, and the ability to force the Play Store to self update, among other things, Android Police said.
Google did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.
Earlier this week, the search giant was sued by a California woman whose children made about $66 worth of in-app purchases over the course of 30 minutes. The suit alleges that Google does not do enough to prevent unwanted in-app purchases. Prior to today's update, Google required a password for the initial app download, but did not require users to re-enter a password for in-app purchases.
The same law firm pursuing the Google case filed a similar lawsuit against Apple, resulting in a hefty settlement with Cupertino. Parents whose kids downloaded less than $30 worth of content got a $5 iTunes gift card or the equivalent of their total Game Currency charges. Cash refunds were provided to consumers who no longer had active iTunes accounts, or whose bill exceeded $30.
The tech giant also agreed in January to refund at least $32.5 million to customers in a similar settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
Cupertino began requiring a password for in-app purchases with the iOS 4.3 updated, pushed out in March 2011. But according to The Guardian, the recent iOS 7.1 update will also alert users that their passwords will be active for 15 minutes after making a purchase or approving a download. Users can tap "OK" to accept or "Settings" to lock down their accounts.