Hyderabad: Google announced on Tuesday that its efforts to combat malicious apps on the Google Play Store have yielded significant results. Through a combination of improved security features, policy updates, and advanced machine learning, Google says it prevented over 2.28 million policy-violating apps from being published in 2023. 

The company highlighted its investments in review tools and processes, which allowed them to identify and ban 333,000 “bad accounts” associated with malware distribution and repeated policy violations. Google has also bolstered its developer onboarding procedures, requiring more comprehensive identity verification when creating Play Store accounts. 

“These efforts make it harder for bad actors to target users on Google Play,” the company stated in a blog post.  

The focus extends beyond simply blocking apps. Google says it reviewed nearly 200,000 app submissions and either rejected them or required modifications to ensure proper use of sensitive permissions like background location access and SMS functionality. This proactive approach aims to prevent potential privacy breaches and misuse of user data. 

By prioritizing security and user safety, Google is sending a clear message to developers: prioritize ethical practices and user privacy, or risk facing app rejection and account termination. These advancements contribute to a safer app marketplace for the millions of users who rely on Google Play for their mobile applications.