Last year, Google stopped 2.28 million apps from being published because of Google Play Store Policy Violations. This is an increase from the 1.43 million apps rejected in 2022. Additionally, Google banned 333,000 developer accounts from the platform for confirmed malware and repeated severe policy violations. Over 200,000 apps were either rejected or fixed to ensure they use sensitive permissions, like accessing your location in the background or reading your text messages properly. The company mentioned this in a blog post.
Google’s security strategy follows the ‘SAFE’ principles: Safeguard Users, Advocate for Developer Protection, Foster Responsible Innovation, and Evolve Platform Defenses. They focus on keeping users safe, supporting developers, encouraging innovation, and staying ahead of threats.
Google Removes Apps from Google Play Store for Older Android Versions
According to a recent update from Google, around 1.5 million services are no longer accessible in the Play Store for users who have updated to the latest Android version. These services didn’t meet the latest application programming interfaces (APIs), which are tools that allow different apps to communicate with each other.
Google also mentioned that they collaborated with software development kit (SDK) providers to improve privacy by limiting access to sensitive data. Additionally, they expanded the Google Play SDK Index to cover SDKs used in nearly six million apps, helping developers make better choices and improve app quality while reducing risks during integration.
New Measures Taken to Enhance Security on Google Play
Google has implemented several new measures to improve security on Google Play:
- Tougher Developer Registration: Google now has a stricter process for developers to register and verify their identities.
- Independent Security Reviews for VPN Apps: Android VPN apps now undergo independent security reviews, and those that pass receive special badges to indicate their security.
- Real-time Malware Scanning: Google has introduced real-time scanning to detect and block malware from running on devices.
- Firmware Hardening: The firmware, which is the software embedded in the hardware, has been strengthened to make it harder for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities at the chip level.
- Expansion of SDK Index: The SDK index, which helps developers choose software tools for their projects, now covers 6 million apps. This expansion aims to assist developers in selecting safe SDKs for their projects, thereby enhancing overall app security.
Tips for Android Users to Stay Safe on Google Play
Even though Google Play isn’t completely free from harmful apps, there are ways to stay safe:
- Stick to Google Play: Get your apps only from Google Play to reduce the risk of malware, spyware, and adware.
- Watch out for “Free” VPN Apps: Be cautious of “free” VPN apps, as some may contain malicious code that can hijack your device for cybercrime purposes.
- Check Play Protect: Make sure Play Protect is active on your device to scan for and remove harmful apps.
- Monitor Power and Data Usage: Regularly review background power and data consumption to spot any suspicious activity.
- Limit App Permissions: Remove unnecessary permissions granted to apps, especially if they don’t need them for their main functions.
By following these tips, you can help protect your Android device from potential security threats on Google Play.
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