{"id":279793,"date":"2024-04-30T04:40:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T11:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/es\/?p=331312"},"modified":"2025-07-01T16:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T23:36:30","slug":"this-is-the-impressive-number-of-malicious-apps-that-google-prevented-from-being-in-the-play-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/this-is-the-impressive-number-of-malicious-apps-that-google-prevented-from-being-in-the-play-store\/","title":{"rendered":"This is the impressive number of malicious apps that Google prevented from being in the Play Store"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Google<\/strong> has revealed that it prevented <strong>2.28 million malicious apps<\/strong> from being published on the <strong>Play Store<\/strong>, the Android app store, during the year 2023. Among the <a href=\"https:\/\/security.googleblog.com\/2024\/04\/how-we-fought-bad-apps-and-bad-actors-in-2023.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">data published<\/a> by the company, it is included that <strong>nearly 200,000 apps were rejected or corrected<\/strong> to solve problems with access to confidential data, and that <strong>333,000 malicious accounts were blocked in the app store<\/strong> for attempting to distribute malware or for repeatedly violating the platform&#8217;s policies.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"Android 14\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-icon-s\/p\/888d43f8-368b-4775-802c-936973a5b407\/873581939\/android-14-2023-04-13_17-33-29.png\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">Android 14<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/android-14.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DOWNLOAD<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--0\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"0\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\"><\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/android-14.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to preventing the publication of malicious apps, Google focused on <strong>protecting user privacy on a massive scale<\/strong>. This, according to <strong>Steve Kafka, Khawaja Shams, and Mohet Saxena<\/strong> from Google, included strategic partnerships with SDK providers to limit access and sharing of sensitive data, benefiting over 790,000 apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, Google <strong>strengthened the developer onboarding and review processes<\/strong>, requiring more identifying data and demanding that they complete a rigorous verification process when setting up their Play Console developer accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google&#8217;s security initiatives also extended to proactive measures to address threats. On one hand, the company <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/security.googleblog.com\/2023\/11\/evolving-app-defense-alliance.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">moved the App Defense Alliance (ADA) under the umbrella of the Linux Foundation<\/a><\/strong>, with the addition of Meta and Microsoft as founding executive members, and implemented <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/security.googleblog.com\/2023\/10\/enhanced-google-play-protect-real-time.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">real-time code scanning<\/a><\/strong> in the App Store to detect and address new malicious programs for Android.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, Google introduced an <strong>&#8220;independent security review&#8221; badge<\/strong> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/mozilla-reliability-labels-security-apps-google-play-store\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">data security section of the Play Store<\/a>, providing users with <strong>an additional guarantee about the security of VPN apps<\/strong> that have undergone a mobile application security assessment (MASA) audit.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-664x374.jpg 664w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-238x134.jpg 238w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-436x246.jpg 436w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1-304x170.jpg 304w, https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Google-Play-Store-app-Android-1024x576-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google also acted in favor of users by removing approximately <strong>1.5 million apps from the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/this-new-functionality-of-the-google-play-store-is-very-simple-and-incredibly-useful-at-the-same-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Play Store<\/a> that were not adapted to the latest APIs<\/strong>, a measure that ensures that users only have access to secure and updated apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google&#8217;s fight against digital wrongdoers is not limited to technical actions, but also involves legal actions. This month, the company filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/docket\/68407045\/google-llc-v-sun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">lawsuit<\/a> in the United States against two Chinese scammers for their involvement in <strong>an online fraud scheme that involved downloading fake apps from the Play Store<\/strong> to steal funds from users.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"Android 14\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-icon-s\/p\/888d43f8-368b-4775-802c-936973a5b407\/873581939\/android-14-2023-04-13_17-33-29.png\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">Android 14<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/android-14.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DOWNLOAD<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--0\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"0\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\"><\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/android-14.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google has revealed that it prevented 2.28 million malicious apps from being published on the Play Store, the Android app store, during the year 2023. Among the data published by the company, it is included that nearly 200,000 apps were rejected or corrected to solve problems with access to confidential data, and that 333,000 malicious &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/this-is-the-impressive-number-of-malicious-apps-that-google-prevented-from-being-in-the-play-store\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;This is the impressive number of malicious apps that Google prevented from being in the Play Store&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9256,"featured_media":279794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":1},"categories":[1015],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-279793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9256"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279793"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313480,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279793\/revisions\/313480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279793"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=279793"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=279793"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=279793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}