Google Play’s Security: 2.36 Million Apps Blocked And 158,000 Developer Accounts Banned

Google Play’s 2024 security update emphasizes the importance of AI-driven threat detection, developer compliance, and multi-layered protections to maintain a secure platform for users and developers alike.

One of the key developments was the expanded use of AI to improve threat detection. AI now plays a central role in identifying harmful apps and streamlining the review process for developers.

Over 92% of human reviews for harmful apps are now AI-assisted, allowing for quicker identification and removal of apps that violate security standards.

In 2024, this approach helped prevent 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play and resulted in the banning of over 158,000 developer accounts attempting to distribute malicious apps.

Google also took steps to address privacy concerns, working with developers to limit unnecessary access to sensitive user data. In 2024, the company prevented 1.3 million apps from accessing excessive data and required greater transparency around data handling practices.

This included introducing new developer guidelines and a “Data Deletion” option, which gives users more control over the data apps collect and retain. To further bolster security, Google introduced tools to help developers protect their apps from fraud and abuse.

The Play Integrity API, for instance, allows developers to detect and prevent tampering and fraud within their apps, while the Google Play SDK Index provides insight into the security of third-party software development kits (SDKs) used by developers.

In addition to these measures, Google Play’s security protections, including Google Play Protect, continued to evolve. Play Protect scans apps for malicious behavior, not only within the Play Store but also on apps installed from external sources.

In 2024, Google Play Protect identified over 13 million new malicious apps from sources outside of the Play Store.

Google also worked with governments and industry partners to address broader security concerns. New fraud protection pilots, launched in nine countries, helped protect millions of devices from risky installation attempts.

Moreover, Google collaborated with organizations such as Microsoft and Meta to develop new security standards aimed at strengthening mobile app security across the industry.

Despite these advancements, Google acknowledges that maintaining a safe environment requires constant vigilance and collaboration with a range of stakeholders to adapt to new and evolving security challenges.