Google Play Protect is enhancing its capabilities with a suite of new features aimed at fortifying the security of Android devices against malware and scams. A significant addition is the automatic disabling of app permissions when an application is identified as potentially harmful. This proactive measure ensures that even if a malicious app infiltrates your device, it will be unable to access sensitive information such as photos, contacts, or location.
In instances where users may need to utilize an app that has been flagged by Play Protect, they will still have the option to restore permissions. However, Google has implemented an additional confirmation step to encourage users to reconsider granting access to apps that may pose a risk. This thoughtful approach aims to foster a more cautious mindset when dealing with potentially harmful applications.
Enhanced Scanning and Protection
Play Protect is already equipped with the ability to reset permissions for apps that have not been used recently, and it can automatically block or disable harmful applications based on their level of threat. Google emphasizes that Play Protect conducts scans on all apps present on a device, including those sideloaded from outside the Play Store, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The company reports that they scan over 200 billion apps daily and perform real-time scanning to address emerging threats effectively.
Moreover, Google is taking decisive action against scammers who employ social engineering tactics to persuade users into disabling Play Protect. These scammers often manipulate users during phone calls, leading them to turn off the protection to facilitate the download of malicious apps. To combat this, Play Protect will now prevent users from toggling off the service during phone and video calls, including those conducted through popular third-party applications.
In conjunction with these enhancements, Google’s recent communications underscore the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a secure Android app ecosystem. In 2024 alone, Google successfully blocked 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play and banned over 158,000 fraudulent developer accounts. Additionally, they have introduced live threat detection for Pixel devices, allowing for real-time identification of harmful app behavior, and launched a new verification badge for VPNs to assist users in selecting trustworthy providers, such as NordVPN.
Source: The Verge
