Play Integrity Archives

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Google Play update may break apps on Android 12 and older

Google will implement an update to its Play Integrity API in May 2025, affecting devices running Android 12 or earlier. This update coincides with the end of security updates for these older versions, potentially leading to app failures and increased vulnerability to cyber threats. Developers will need to revise their applications to comply with the new API standards, while users on outdated systems may face degraded performance or complete app failures. The urgency to upgrade to Android 13 or newer is emphasized for both users and developers.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Google’s Android Decision—Bad News For 50% Of All Users

Google will implement changes to app functionality on Android devices starting next month, affecting over half of all Android users. The changes are driven by the Play Integrity API, which aims to reduce fraud and data theft, resulting in an 80% reduction in unauthorized app usage. Devices running Android 13 and above will experience improved performance, while those on Android 12 or older may face slower performance. Google is also introducing enhanced security signals for developers to assess device trustworthiness. Over half of Android devices have not upgraded to Android 13 or later, and approximately 200 million users remain on Android 12, which no longer receives security patches. Users on Android 12 or 12L are advised to upgrade for better security and performance.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

Google to Ramp Up Android Security With These New Features for Developers

Google has launched initiatives to enhance the security of its Play Store, focusing on reducing malicious and fraudulent applications. Key measures include upgrading the Play Integrity API to protect users from harmful apps and assist developers in addressing modified applications. Google Play Protect's threat detection will expand to target apps impersonating financial services, with Enhanced Financial Fraud Protection being rolled out to more markets. The app submission process will be streamlined with additional pre-review checks, and developers will receive notifications about policy compliance. Google has introduced "Government" and "Verified" badges for specific app categories and plans to expand this system. Over the past year, Google blocked 2.36 million apps violating Play Store policies and identified significantly more Android malware from third-party sources compared to those on the Play Store.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Google Play Store will get more tools to protect users from scammy apps

Google has announced a plan to enhance the safety of its Play Store by implementing protective measures by 2025. Google Play Protect will target malicious applications impersonating financial apps, responding to a rise in fraudulent activities, including ad fraud. The company has already removed 180 fraudulent apps from the Play Store and will alert users about unsafe apps, especially those from outside the Google Play ecosystem. Google will extend its pilot program to additional countries facing malware-based financial threats. Users are encountering significantly more Android malware from external sources. Google aims to make it harder for malicious actors to deceive users and plans to introduce a "verified badge" for secure VPN applications, with plans to expand this to other app categories. For app developers, Google is enhancing the Play Integrity API tool and providing self-help tools for dealing with tampered apps, with features expected to roll out by May. Google is also improving support channels for developers, including expanding the Google Play Developer Help Community to additional languages.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Google bolsters Android security for app developers and users

Google has announced a suite of improvements to enhance security within the Android ecosystem and the Google Play Store. Key advancements include: - Enhanced tools to protect businesses from scams and fraud. - Pre-review checks to identify policy and compatibility issues early in app development. - Transparent information on Google Play to build consumer trust. - Strengthened threat-detection capabilities using AI to combat malicious activities. Developers will receive earlier notifications about relevant policies within Android Studio, and the policy experience has been revamped for clearer updates and more time for changes. The Google Play Developer Help Community is expanding to facilitate knowledge sharing among developers. The Play Integrity API is being utilized for over 500 million daily checks to prevent fraud and abuse, with apps using these features seeing an 80% reduction in usage from unverified sources. Improvements for devices running Android 13 include enhanced security signals and automatic updates for developers. New badges for app categories, including a "Verified" badge for VPN apps, are being introduced to validate secure applications. Google is also focusing on creating a safe online experience for children and developing tools like the Credential Manager API for Digital IDs. Last year, investments in security measures prevented 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published. Google Play Protect is evolving to counter new threats, and the company is collaborating with industry leaders to establish security standards through the App Defense Alliance.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Google blocked 2.36 million risky Android apps from Play Store in 2024

Google blocked 2.3 million Android app submissions to the Play Store in 2024 due to policy violations that posed risks to users. The company also banned 158,000 developer accounts for attempting to introduce harmful applications, including malware and spyware. The number of blocked apps increased from 2,280,000 in 2023 and 1,500,000 in 2022, aided by AI assistance in 92% of human reviews. Google prevented 1.3 million apps from gaining excessive permissions and upgraded Google Play Protect, which scanned over 200 billion apps daily and identified over 13 million new malware apps from outside Google Play. The Google Play SDK index added 80 trusted SDKs, and the Play Integrity API adoption led to an 80% reduction in abuse from untrusted sources. Google's untrusted APK installation blocking system expanded to several countries and thwarted 36 million installation attempts of 200,000 unique apps from reaching 10 million Android devices.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Outdated Devices Face Restrictions in Google Play’s Latest Update

Google Play has updated the Play Integrity API to enhance security for Android devices. The API verifies that applications run on secure, non-rooted hardware, reducing the risk of malware attacks. A new feature allows the API to check if devices have the latest software updates, enabling developers to restrict app functionality based on the device's security status. This is particularly important for financial and enterprise applications. The update will be available on devices running Android 13 and later, while those on Android 12 or earlier should use alternative security measures. The API's performance has also improved, with reduced latency for better communication between apps and the operating system. Automatic updates for developers will begin by May 2025.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

Harmony OS Next doesn’t natively support Android apps, but that hasn’t stopped some people

Huawei has introduced a new tool called "Easy Abroad" for devices running Harmony OS Next, allowing them to launch popular Android applications like Chrome, Gmail, and Spotify. This development comes after Huawei faced restrictions in 2019 that cut off access to Google Mobile Services, prompting the creation of its own ecosystem and the original Harmony OS. The "Easy Abroad" tool is designed primarily for Chinese tourists traveling internationally and enables access to various Android applications from a dedicated app store. Initial reviews indicate that the tool functions well, allowing users to sign into their Google accounts and access services like Google Search and Gmail. However, it has limitations, including potential issues with Play Integrity checks, reliance on microG instead of Google Play Services, restrictions on app installations to whitelisted apps, and limited streaming quality for services like Netflix due to the lack of Widevine L1 DRM support.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

Banking apps may require recent Android security updates

Google has introduced a new feature for the Play Integrity API that allows banking applications to identify devices that have not received a recent Android security update. This could result in restricted access to sensitive features for users with devices that have not been updated in over a year. The Play Integrity API helps verify the authenticity of software and devices, enhancing security for mobile banking. The update primarily affects users on older Android versions or those without recent security enhancements, as these devices are more vulnerable to cyber threats. Banking applications may limit features like mobile transactions for outdated devices and encourage users to update to maintain access.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

Google’s beefing up Android app security, but not everyone’s going to be happy

Google is enhancing its Play Integrity API to provide faster and more secure device attestation for Android applications. The updated API will make it harder to spoof attestation checks and will introduce measures to verify that apps are installed via the Play Store, potentially affecting sideloaded applications. Average Android users can expect improved app performance, although some may receive notifications about outdated security updates. Developers can opt into the new system now, with a broader rollout planned for May 2025.