Android
Google Play Protect stays on during calls
Google has shared its yearly update on Android and Google Play safety for 2024, introducing new security features. One key feature is that Google Play Protect can’t be switched off while you’re on a phone call or using video chat apps.
Every day, Google Play Protect checks more than 200 billion apps, which is a big jump from 125 billion last year. In 2024, it caught over 13 million harmful apps that weren’t from the Google Play Store.
The option to disable “Scan apps with Play Protect” is blocked during calls to prevent scams. Scammers might trick you into turning off this protection so they can install bad apps. You’ll see a warning if someone tells you to disable it, indicating it might be a scam.
Additionally, if Play Protect is off, Chrome on Android will remind you to turn it back on. Research shows that over 95% of risky apps, which often lead to financial scams, come from outside the Play Store, like from websites or messaging apps.
Google is also testing a stronger fraud protection in countries including Brazil, India, and South Africa, among others. Moreover, Google Play Protect now automatically stops apps that might be harmful from accessing private information like your photos or camera, but you can turn these permissions back on if needed.
Here are some more safety highlights from Google Play in 2024:
- Over 2.36 million apps that broke the rules were stopped from being added to Google Play.
- Over 158,000 developer accounts were banned for trying to upload dangerous apps.
- More than 1.3 million apps were prevented from getting too much access to your data.
- More than 91% of apps on Google Play are now on Android 13 or newer, with better security.
- Apps using Play Integrity see 80% less use from sources that aren’t verified or trusted.
- The enhanced fraud protection has protected 10 million devices from 36 million risky app installs involving over 200,000 different apps.