Google Play Protect is once again proud to report that it has successfully stopped millions of malicious apps from being published on the Google Play Store. Throughout 2024, Google worked with over 1.3 million developers to ensure that no strange permissions were requested and over 2.36 million malicious apps were successfully blocked.
Not only that, Play Protect has also blocked 158,000 malicious developers. For 2024, app reviews and monitoring are done by human workers with the help of AI. Many apps also now offer a button to immediately delete accounts, 91% of apps for Android 13 and above devices installed are guaranteed to be safe, and more people are now installing apps legally, namely through the Play Store rather than sideloading.
Google Play Protect also uses a stricter security model, to ensure that users who refuse to use the Play Store are still protected. With this new security model, 13 million apps outside the Play Store have been identified as unsafe. To date, over 200 billion apps have been scanned every day.
Specifically for users who sideload APKs, Play Protect can now also block permission access if an app tries to access sensitive data. Google also added that 10 million devices were successfully detected trying to install malicious apps 36 million times.
Here is a summary of what Play Protect managed to do throughout 2024;
Successfully blocked 2.36 million malicious apps published on the Play Store.
158,000 malicious developers were successfully blocked.
1.3 million apps guaranteed safe
92% of app reviews and reviews were done by humans assisted by AI.
91% of apps installed throughout 2024 on Android 13 and above were verified safe.
80% of users installed fewer apps from outside the Play Store.
13 million sideloaded apps were found to be malicious.
200 billion apps have been scanned through the Play Store as of 2024.
Play Protect also blocked permission access for sideloaded apps.
10 million devices tried 36 million times to install 200,000 malicious apps.