GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT Posts on XDA

Android 11’s auto-reset permissions feature is rolling out to devices running Android 6.0 and above

Android 11’s auto-reset permissions feature is rolling out to devices running Android 6.0 and above

March 30, 2022
Google introduced a new auto-reset permissions feature with Android 11 to automatically revoke sensitive runtime permissions from apps that have not been in use for a few months. In September last year, the company announced that it would bring the feature to devices running older versions of Android starting December 2021. However, Google pushed the...
Google Play Protect is flagging certain versions of Vanced Manager

Google Play Protect is flagging certain versions of Vanced Manager

March 30, 2022
Google recently cracked down on Vanced, one of the most popular YouTube app alternatives for Android, and sent its developers a cease and desist order. As a result, the developers took Vanced offline, forcing users to look for other YouTube Vanced alternatives. But that doesn't seem to be the end of the Vanced saga. Since current...
Google publishes Play Protect as separate app for quicker updates

Google publishes Play Protect as separate app for quicker updates

October 18, 2021
Google Play Protect has been a core security component in Android for several years, acting as an equivalent to Windows Defender and other anti-malware services. It scans installed applications (even those from outside the Play Store) for possible harmful software, and like most Google services on Android, it has been updated through the massive Play...
XDA Basics: Does your Android smartphone need an antivirus app?

XDA Basics: Does your Android smartphone need an antivirus app?

June 28, 2021
Android is not just the biggest mobile operating system in the world, it's the biggest OS -- period. Such a large user base makes it a juicy target for cyber-criminals, which is why there are often reports about Android malware, adware, and other not-so-nice things. Such reports make people afraid and they rush to the...
Popular Barcode Scanner app caught infecting Android smartphones

Popular Barcode Scanner app caught infecting Android smartphones

February 9, 2021
A popular barcode scanner app with over 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store has been caught infecting Android devices with malware. The app, simply dubbed Barcode Scanner, has since been removed from the Play Store, but it likely still remains there on many of the infected devices. As the name implies, the Barcode Scanner...
Google Chrome will offer Advanced Protection users the ability to send risky files to Google for scanning

Google Chrome will offer Advanced Protection users the ability to send risky files to Google for scanning

September 16, 2020
Google’s Advanced Protection Program is the company’s strongest security for “those who need it most.” This program can safeguard personal or business Google accounts of anyone at risk of targeted attacks, like political campaigns, journalists, business leaders, etc. While it’s not something most people need, it is available to anyone. Back in March 2020, Google...
Google’s Advanced Protection program now blocks sideloading non-Play Store apps

Google’s Advanced Protection program now blocks sideloading non-Play Store apps

March 18, 2020
Google's Advanced Protection program is the company's strongest security for "those who need it most." This program can safeguard personal or business Google accounts of anyone at risk of targeted attacks, like political campaigns, journalists, business leaders, etc. While it's not something most people need, it is available to anyone. Today, Google announced some new...
Google partners with ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to improve Play Protect’s detection of malware before it hits the Play Store

Google partners with ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to improve Play Protect’s detection of malware before it hits the Play Store

November 7, 2019
The Google Play Store is the central point of app distribution on Google's Android, enabling thousands of developers to distribute their apps to millions of users around the world. This high traffic medium thus becomes a lucrative channel for bad actors to propagate their own malware. Google realized the potential of abuse, and so, at...
Google Play Protect used machine learning to detect 60.3% of all Potentially Harmful Apps on the Play Store

Google Play Protect used machine learning to detect 60.3% of all Potentially Harmful Apps on the Play Store

March 16, 2018
Google Play Protect is Google's answer to the ever-evolving battle against malware. We saw it launch in May of last year, and since then it has undergone many changes and improvements. It also rolled out to many more devices following its initial testing phase. Play Protect works by scanning applications uploaded to the Google Play...
Google Play Protect Rolls Out to More Devices with Latest Update

Google Play Protect Rolls Out to More Devices with Latest Update

August 9, 2017
At Google I/O earlier this year, the company announced a new service it would be providing to Android owners called Google Play Protect. In and of itself, this wasn't actually anything new that hasn't already been included in Android for years. Instead, it was essentially a rebranding of a few features that Google has provided...