What is Google Play Protect and what makes it the most important part of your Android phone – Times of India

Google Play Protect is the company’s comprehensive security suite designed to ensure that every Android device is safe and secure. Announced at Google’s annual developers conference I/O in the year 2017, Google Play Protect automatically scans all apps on Android phones and works to prevent the installation of harmful apps as well as nortifies about harmful urls. It uses machine learning to scan and verify over billions of apps every single day — both inside and outside the Google Play Store. Wondering how outside Play Store? Google Play Protect scans all apps on users Android phones, even those downloaded from outside Play Store, for malicious activity and notifies users it finds something suspicious.
How Google Play Protect works
Google Play Protect checks apps when you install them. It also periodically scans your device. If it finds a potentially harmful app, it might:

  • Send you a notification. To remove the app you have been warned about, just tap the notification, then tap Uninstall. You can also disable the app until you uninstall it.
  • In some cases, if a harmful app has been detected, you may also get a notification saying that the app has been removed.
  • It runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them.
  • It warns users about detected apps that violate the company’s Unwanted Software Policy by hiding or misrepresenting important information.
  • It sends users privacy alerts about apps that can get user permissions to access your personal information, violating our Developer Policy.

How to know if my phone is Play Protect certified
Google Play Protect is on by default, but users can turn it off. For security, Google recommends that users always keep Google Play Protect on. Here’s how you can check the status on their devices:

  • Open the Google Play Store app Google Play.
  • At the top right, tap the profile icon.
  • Now, Tap Play Protect.
  • Under “Play Protect certification,” find out if your device is Play Protect certified.

To sum it, Google Play Protect is the best thing on your Android phone. But yes, it is not perfect and there are chances that some bad apps may slip in so don’t lower your guard completely.

.