Google has reported significant strides in maintaining the integrity of its Play Store, revealing that it successfully thwarted the publication of over 1.75 million policy-violating applications throughout 2025. In a robust effort to enhance user safety, the tech giant also banned more than 80,000 developer accounts identified as “bad actors” attempting to distribute harmful apps.
Enhanced Security Measures
In its latest report, Google detailed its proactive measures, which included preventing over 255,000 apps from gaining excessive access to sensitive user information. The company attributed its success to initiatives such as developer verification—a move that has sparked debate within the Android developer community—as well as the introduction of new mandatory review checks and testing protocols.
Moreover, Google emphasized its commitment to combating review spam, stating that its protective measures successfully blocked 160 million spam ratings and reviews last year. This included both inflated and deflated reviews, which can mislead users. The company noted, “We also prevented an average 0.5-star rating drop for apps targeted by review bombing, protecting our users and developers from unhelpful reviews.”
In a forward-thinking approach, Google has also integrated generative AI systems into its review process, enabling its human review team to identify complex malicious patterns with greater speed and accuracy.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Challenges
Despite these advancements, Google remains under scrutiny regarding its consumer safety practices within the Play Store. In November of the previous year, the European Commission launched an investigation into how Google Play, alongside competitors like Apple’s App Store, manages risks associated with financial scams. This includes concerns over malicious mobile applications that masquerade as legitimate banking and financial services.
While Google’s efforts have effectively kept many fraudulent apps at bay, independent researchers have uncovered instances where harmful applications have managed to evade detection. A report from Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs (CRIL) in January highlighted 20 Android apps available on the Play Store that were designed to steal cryptocurrency, impersonating popular crypto wallets and employing deceptive tactics to deplete users’ funds.
