Google has blocked 2.36 million Android apps from the Play Store in 2024 due to violating its policies, including over 158,000 developer accounts banned for publishing malicious apps. The number of blocked apps is up 35% from 2023 and represents a significant improvement in protecting users from harmful or malicious software.
Google’s AI-assisted human review process allowed it to detect more violating cases than ever before, with the tech giant stating that over 92% of its reviews for harmful apps are now AI-assisted. This increased scrutiny resulted in stopping more bad apps from reaching users and enhancing the overall security of Android devices.
In addition to blocking malicious apps, Google also prevented 1.3 million apps from getting excessive permissions that could have granted them access to sensitive user data. The company’s security system, Play Protect, received upgrades in 2024 to enhance real-time protection against scams, fraud, and other threats.
Google has been working to improve the security of Android devices through various means, including expanding its untrusted APK installation blocking system to more countries and introducing new tools for developers to secure their apps. Despite these efforts, gaps in security remain, and cybercriminals continue to find ways to bypass automated scanners. As such, users must remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves, such as only trusting reputable publishers and keeping the number of installed apps to a minimum.
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-blocked-236-million-risky-android-apps-from-play-store-in-2024