Any app store, even if it is recognized and the collection of apps receives positive reviews or feedback – not all of them can be trusted. There will always be dangerous apps that get away because of cunning developers. Because of this, the Google Play Store has great protection and a number of apps will receive special recognition like the one that was just distributed to the public – apps with the Independent Security Review badge.
The Independent Security Review badge or if you use Malay it will be displayed as Free Security Review is now starting to be distributed to the public after it was first announced in 2023. Apps with this badge are reviewed to pass the new App Defense Alliance (ADA) standard, namely MASA (Mobile App Security Assessment). Apps that pass this standard mean that user data cannot be compromised and are guaranteed to be safe.
This badge is seen as eligible for apps that manage and handle sensitive data such as antivirus or VPN. In my review, devices in Malaysia such as the OnePlus 13, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Nothing Phone (2a) and ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition have received it.
If you follow a lot of content creators on YouTube etc. and someone is promoting a VPN, make sure the app has received the Independent Security Review badge to guarantee the security of personal data. One popular but unverified one is ExpressVPN.