Fire TV Stick users need to exercise caution as a popular tool called “Downloader” has been removed from Amazon’s Appstore, paving the way for a fraudulent copycat app aimed at scamming users. The original tool disappeared from the online marketplace over the weekend, causing concern among users who have relied on it for nearly a decade to sideload apps not found in official channels.
Despite its long-standing popularity, Downloader faced a temporary suspension after a recent update flagged it as a full web browser, contravening Amazon’s policy against third-party browsers on Fire TV devices. The developer, Elias Saba, believes the issue arose from the app mistakenly identifying itself as a browser and not from its core functionality. Saba has since released an update to address this issue and hopes Amazon will reinstate the app soon.
In the interim, users are advised to avoid a fake version of Downloader that has emerged, attempting to deceive Fire TV owners into paying a weekly fee. Saba urges users to report this scam app to Amazon and refrain from installing it. If users already have the legitimate Downloader installed, they should not delete it as they may not be able to reinstall it until Amazon’s approval. Additionally, users should disable Auto Offload to prevent the app from being automatically removed.
Pending Amazon’s approval of the fix, Downloader may make a comeback on Fire TV devices in the coming days, but users should remain vigilant.
