Google is taking significant steps to improve the security of its Android platform, making it more and more iPhone-like. Despite numerous efforts, app security on the Play Store remains an area where Android has not been able to outperform iOS.
The proliferation of dangerous apps remains a problem, but Google seems determined to address it with the upcoming version of Android 15.
Android 15 will introduce “live threat detection,” using on-device AI to analyze app behavior and quickly flag those that abuse sensitive permissions.
This feature will reduce the time between an app’s misbehavior and its removal, although it won’t completely solve the problem of malicious apps that have already entered the Play Store.
Bulk app removal
In an unprecedented move, Google has announced a mass app removal from the Play Store, scheduled for August 31. This effort seeks to ensure that apps meet high standards of quality and functionality by removing static, plain text, PDF, and other apps that do not provide an engaging user experience.
This change aims to significantly improve the overall quality of apps available on the Play Store.
Google has updated its spam and minimum functionality policies to ensure that apps on the Play Store are not only useful, but also safe. Apps that don’t meet these standards will be removed, potentially affecting some popular but low-quality apps.
Google’s response and user expectations
In response to these new measures, Google has stressed its commitment to user security and privacy. A Google spokesperson said: “Chrome is designed to keep your data secure by default and ensure that users can control when and how their data is used to personalize their web browsing experience.”
Despite these measures, challenges persist in synchronizing versions and deploying security updates. Issues such as falsely claiming that apps are up to date, when they are not, continue to impact the user experience. This is an area where Google needs to do more to match Apple’s efficiency.
The mass removal of apps from the Play Store is a significant step towards improving security and quality on the Android platform. While there is still much work to be done, these measures demonstrate Google’s commitment to providing a safer and more reliable environment for its users.
With the purge just six weeks away, Android users can look forward to a cleaner and safer Play Store in the near future.