Thousands and thousands of apps have been rejected from Google Play in 2024, and for good purpose

Google is strict in regards to the safety of its Play Store, and in 2024, it blocked extra malicious Android apps than ever that violated its insurance policies and posed safety dangers.

In a current security blog post, Google detailed how its AI-powered menace detection instruments helped forestall 2.36 million dangerous apps from being printed on the Play Retailer, a rise from 2023’s 2.28 million and 2022’s 1.5 million. Google additionally blocked 158,000 builders who tried to publish dangerous apps. It is not simply AI doing all of the work, both — people are nonetheless concerned.

“Right now, over 92% of our human opinions for dangerous apps are AI-assisted, permitting us to take faster and extra correct motion to assist forestall dangerous apps from turning into out there on Google Play,” Google mentioned in a blog post. “That’s enabled us to cease extra dangerous apps than ever from reaching customers by way of the Play Retailer, defending customers from dangerous or malicious apps earlier than they’ll trigger any injury.”

Associated

You can get the Google Play store on most devices — except for this popular brand

Google Play Retailer can provide you a lot, however it is advisable have a selected type of gadget to reap the advantages.

Google is taking extra steps to guard delicate information

The tech large can be robotically revoking app permissions from dangerous apps

Google / Pocket-lint

Google additionally outlined how it’s working with builders to scale back the quantity of delicate information apps must entry. The tech large mentioned that in 2024, it prevented 1.3 million apps “from getting extreme, pointless entry to delicate consumer information.” Usually, an app that requests overly demanding consumer information permissions is a purple flag to Google.

Google’s Play Defend service now robotically revokes permissions from Android apps that probably pose a menace additionally. This implies Play Defend might lower off an app’s permissions to entry delicate information like your storage and images. Customers can restore the permissions in the event that they suppose the app is protected.

Google additionally just lately added badges to particular apps like VPNs and official authorities companies. If you are going to obtain an app out of your native authorities, it must be marked with a authorities badge that reads, “Play Verified this app is affiliated with a authorities entity.” The identical goes for VPNs, which now have a “Verified” badge to point it’s protected to make use of. Google is taking many steps to guard Android customers, and primarily based on the numbers it introduced in its report and its actions, it’s paying off.

Associated

Google’s Pixel 9a could cost more than expected

The Pixel 9a is predicted to launch quickly, however one mannequin might have a slight worth enhance.