AI became a hot topic. Its influence even bled into the Google Play security division, which used AI in 92% of app security reviews.

I f you’re an Android smartphone or tablet user, the Google Play Store is your go-to space to download and update your favorite Android apps. The app is great for the most part

Over the last day, Android phones and tablets have encountered a ‘Google Play Store keeps stopping’ error message. That system warning usually appears when Android apps crash. However, Google Play is working normally as far as we can tell. There’s no impact to browsing, downloading, or updating apps outside of the message.

Google has already announced a security-checking Google Play VPN badge system two times now, but it's here to announce it again.

We’re talking permission abuse, which has always been a serious threat to users. A new report is just the latest “alarming” wake-up call, “uncovering alarming security and privacy concerns.” This latest research has also exposed “hardcoded secrets embedded within some apps… which poses a serious risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.”

As previously stated, this Verified badge is rolling out for VPNs that are "trusted" for protecting your data. The post adds that VPNs (virtual private networks) like NordVPN, hide.me, and Aloha are among the first to have gone through the necessary hoops to demonstrate a higher level of security/safety.

Google said today it will recognize trusted VPN apps for consumers on Android with a "Verified" badge in the Google Play Store.

Google blocked 2.36 million apps and 158,000 developer accounts to maintain Play Store safety in 2024. 1.3 million apps had access to unnecessary permissions, curtailed by Google. Play Protect flagged 13 million new apps outside Google Play,

Google’s post recapping Play Store and Android protections in 2024 is live, while highlighting new Play Protect features, like during calls.