Google has outlined its comprehensive new strategies to ensure the Android ecosystem remains secure throughout 2025. In its yearly security report, the tech giant based in Mountain View showcased how it significantly boosted protections across the Google Play Store. These efforts successfully blocked millions of dangerous apps — those that could lead to malware infections, financial scams, sneaky subscriptions, and privacy breaches — before they ever reached users. The company achieved this by utilizing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) detection tools and fostering collaborations across the entire Android ecosystem.
Google’s Robust Security Measures in 2025
In 2025, Google took decisive action by preventing over 1.75 million apps from being published on the Google Play Store due to policy violations. This proactive approach also led to the termination of more than 80,000 developer accounts, identified for engaging in malicious activities, fraud, or consistent policy breaches.
Furthermore, Google’s report highlighted the prevention of more than 255,000 apps from accessing sensitive user data without proper justification. The company reinforced its privacy policies and actively encouraged privacy-conscious development. This was achieved through resources like Play Policy Insights in Android Studio and the dedicated Data Safety section on Google Play, which aim to help developers reduce unnecessary permission requests and focus on user privacy.
To maintain user trust in app discovery, Google significantly improved its anti-spam systems. This led to the successful blocking of 160 million spam ratings and reviews, combating both artificially boosted and unfairly lowered feedback. These enhanced protections also managed to prevent an average 0.5-star rating decrease for apps targeted by review bombing, safeguarding both users and developers from manipulative and misleading content.
Google’s advanced generative AI-powered review systems now scrutinize apps much earlier in their development stages. This early analysis helps in identifying malware, spyware, and financial scam applications even before they are officially submitted to the Play Store. Building on existing security measures, Google also implemented new protective layers last year to ensure younger users are shielded from discovering or downloading apps associated with activities like gambling or dating.
Furthermore, Google’s built-in malware protection service for Android, Google Play Protect, received significant enhancements during the past year. What began as a pilot program in Singapore has now expanded to 185 markets, safeguarding over 2.8 billion Android devices. This sophisticated system diligently analyzes and automatically blocks installation attempts from apps suspected of abusing sensitive permissions for financial fraud.
Through these continuous improvements, Google Play Protect effectively blocked 266 million risky installation attempts in 2025 and defended users against 872,000 unique high-risk applications.
Finally, Google rolled out new protections specifically designed to counter social engineering attacks that occur during phone calls. A new in-call scam protection feature ensures that users cannot disable Play Protect while on an active call. This clever design aims to thwart fraudsters who attempt to persuade victims to turn off their device’s built-in security defenses and install malicious apps during an ongoing conversation.