Google Play Protect is a built-in security feature on Android devices that can identify and remove harmful apps. With its ability to detect rogue apps, you can keep your smartphone secure.
Sidelloading apps on Android smartphones comes with risks. If not properly checked, malicious apps can steal personal data and cause financial losses. Google has blocked over 2.36 million malicious apps from the Store in 2024 alone.
To protect yourself, manually run Play Protect to scan for malware. Here’s how:
1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner.
3. Select Play Protect.
4. Click on Scan.
5. The app will scan all installed apps and games, notifying you if any malware is detected.
Google recommends keeping Play Protect features active, especially for improved harmful app detection. By doing so, you can ensure that sideloaded apps are safe to use.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/scan-and-remove-bad-apps-malware-google-play-protect-9813229