Latest news with #PlayProtect
Android Authority
13-05-2025
- Android Authority
Your Android phone will soon warn you about that sketchy app sneakily changing icons
Joe Hindy / Android Authority TL;DR Google Play Protect will soon detect when an app changes its icon, and alert users to this behavior. Malicious apps sometimes change their app icon to evade removal, so this should help in a big way. Play Protect is also gaining improved on-device detection of malware. Google Play Protect is one of the first lines of defense against malicious apps on your Android phone. Google recently beefed up this service with real-time scanning protection, and the company has now announced more additions. Google confirmed that Play Protect's live threat detection feature can now detect when an app changes its icon, subsequently alerting users about this behavior. Malicious app developers sometimes change their app icons to make it more difficult for users to remove them. So this will be another welcome layer of defense against sketchy apps. Google says this new capability will be available in the coming months on the Pixel 6 series and newer and a 'selection of new devices from other manufacturers.' This isn't the only addition, as Play Protect also brings enhanced on-device detection capabilities: Google Play Protect now uses a new set of on-device rules to specifically look for text or binary patterns to quickly identify malware families. If an app shows these malicious patterns, we can alert you before you even install it. The company adds that these on-device rules will be 'frequently' updated to protect you from new and emerging types of malware. This feature may have been in the pipeline for a while, as we discovered a rules-based approach to on-device scanning almost a year ago. In any event, Google says this enhanced approach to malware scanning is now available to all Android users with Google Play Services. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
The Verge
13-05-2025
- The Verge
Android launches new protections against phone call scammers
Google is rolling out several new features to protect Android users from falling victim to phone call scams. Now, Android will automatically block users from sideloading an app for the first time from a web browser, messaging app, or other service while on a call with an unknown contact. Google will also stop users from giving an app accessibility permissions while talking on the phone, helping to prevent a potentially dangerous app from gaining control of their device and stealing personal information. If you try to adjust these settings during a call, Google will display a message saying: 'This setting is blocked to protect your device.' It also warns users that 'scammers may try to take control of your device by asking you to allow accessibility access for an app.' Google already blocks users from disabling its app security service, Play Protect, during phone calls. The company says these protections happen 'completely on device' and should help prevent scammers from tricking users into downloading malicious apps and enabling sensitive permissions. The new protections are available on devices with Android 16. Image: Google Google also announced that it's testing a new Android feature to discourage users from opening their banking app while sharing their screen on a call. The feature, which is rolling out to banking apps in the UK, including Monzo, NatWest, and Revolut to start, is meant to combat screen-sharing scams where fraudsters impersonate banks or government agencies to convince victims to perform harmful actions, like bank transfers. When users try to launch a banking app while sharing their screen with an unknown contact, Google will display a pop-up to warn of a 'likely scam,' while offering an 'end call' button that users can press to immediately hang up and stop sharing their screen. If users choose not to end the call, they'll have to wait 30 seconds before they can continue to share their banking app's screen. This will be available to devices running Android 11 and newer, and Google says it will 'assess the results of the pilot' before rolling it out more widely. Image: Google These features build upon Android's growing scam protection tools. Last year, it started using AI to detect if a caller might be a scammer and encourage users to end these calls. It also rolled out AI-powered scam detection in Google Messages, which has expanded to more types of scams, such as those that attempt to collect personal information through phony toll road billing messages, crypto scams, financial impersonation scams, and more.
Scottish Sun
11-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Google Maps solves huge mobile problem that's been annoying people for YEARS
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GOOGLE has launched a new handy feature to make directions even simpler. Users will now be able to take a screenshot of their desired location with the name of the spot and connect straight to Google Maps. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Google Maps is now even easier to use Credit: Getty Google Maps will now be able to scan the screenshot and save the names of places to a list ready to be used - rather than users having to remember place names. The new function is perfect for browsing social media or websites - making life much easier when planning trips abroad or weekend adventures. To use the setting, make sure your phone is running the latest version of the Google Maps app. Open the app and tap the 'you' tab and you'll see 'screenshots' appear as a new private list. Your phone should give you the option to view a tutorial. If you give your phone permission to 'allow access to all photos', auto-scan will automatically find new screenshots with locations and place them in a carousel. You can also go through your photos manually and import images for review. Whilst its only iPhone users who have access to the new feature, Google has revealed it will be rolling it out for Android soon. This comes after Google revealed a major crackdown on dangerous apps and has warned users how to protect themselves. The tech giant revealed that it banned more than 2.3 million apps built to "cause you harm". These apps were blocked from the Google Play Store, which is where Android owners usually get their downloads from. Cyber-crooks often try to sneak dangerous apps onto the store in hopes of stealing from innocent victims. They'll use apps to nab your private info, spy on you, empty your bank account, or hold your device to ransom. Now Google says it blocked 158,000 "bad accounts" from trying to publish dangerous apps in 2024. And Google banned millions of apps from going live on the Play Store last year too. "We're continually improving these protections and evolving our policies to ensure safe, high-quality apps on Google Play and to stop bad actors before they can cause you harm," said Google's Suzanne Frey. "In 2024, we prevented 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play. "And banned more than 158,000 bad developer accounts that attempted to publish harmful apps." Google said these apps would feature "digital traps" aimed at unsuspecting victims. And it revealed how the Play Store runs "over 10,000 safety checks" on every single app. Google is also urging Android phone owners to keep the Play Protect setting switched on at all times. It's a special feature that scans the apps on your phone to make sure they're not dodgy. You can find the feature by going into the Google Play Store app. Now tap Profile > Play Protect > Settings and turn on Scan Apps With Play Protect.
The Irish Sun
11-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Google Maps solves huge mobile problem that's been annoying people for YEARS
GOOGLE has launched a new handy feature to make directions even simpler. Users will now be able to take a screenshot of their desired location with the name of the spot and connect straight to Google Maps. Advertisement 2 Google Maps is now even easier to use Credit: Getty Google Maps will now be able to scan the screenshot and save the names of places to a list ready to be used - rather than users having to remember place names. The new function is perfect for browsing social media or websites - making life much easier when planning trips abroad or weekend adventures. To use the setting, make sure your phone is running the latest version of the Google Maps app. Open the app and tap the 'you' tab and you'll see 'screenshots' appear as a new private list. Advertisement read more on google Your phone should give you the option to view a tutorial. If you give your phone permission to 'allow access to all photos', auto-scan will automatically find new screenshots with locations and place them in a carousel. You can also go through your photos manually and import images for review. Whilst its only iPhone users who have access to the new feature, Google has revealed it will be rolling it out for Android soon. Advertisement Most read in Tech Exclusive This comes after Google revealed a major crackdown on dangerous apps and has warned users how to protect themselves. The tech giant revealed that it banned more than 2.3 million apps built to "cause you harm". These apps were blocked from the Google Play Store, which is where Android owners usually get their downloads from. Cyber-crooks often try to sneak dangerous apps onto the store in hopes of stealing from innocent victims. Advertisement They'll use apps to nab your private info, spy on you, empty your bank account, or hold your device to ransom. Now Google says it blocked 158,000 "bad accounts" from trying to publish dangerous apps in 2024. And Google banned millions of apps from going live on the Play Store last year too. "We're continually improving these protections and evolving our policies to ensure safe, high-quality apps on Google Play and to stop bad actors before they can cause you harm," said Google's Suzanne Frey. Advertisement "In 2024, we prevented 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play. "And banned more than 158,000 bad developer accounts that attempted to publish harmful apps." Google said these apps would feature "digital traps" aimed at unsuspecting victims. And it revealed how the Play Store runs "over 10,000 safety checks" on every single app. Advertisement Google is also urging Android phone owners to keep the Play Protect setting switched on at all times. It's a special feature that scans the apps on your phone to make sure they're not dodgy. You can find the feature by going into the Google Play Store app. Now tap Profile > Play Protect > Settings and turn on Scan Apps With Play Protect. Advertisement 2 Android users are yet to have access to the new function Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Google bans 2.3 MILLION apps for phone owners in major crackdown and urges all users to keep ‘protection mode' turned on
GOOGLE has revealed a major crackdown on dangerous apps – and says you must check a key setting immediately. The tech giant revealed that it banned more than 2.3 million apps built to "cause you harm". 3 The Google Play Store is the main place to download apps on Android phones Credit: Google These apps were blocked from the Google Play Store, which is where Android owners usually get their downloads from. Cyber-crooks often try to sneak dangerous apps onto the store in hopes of stealing from innocent victims. They'll use apps to nab your private info, spy on you, empty your bank account, or hold your device to ransom. Now Google says it blocked 158,000 "bad accounts" from trying to publish dangerous apps in 2024. And Google banned millions of apps from going live on the Play Store last year too. "We're continually improving these protections and evolving our policies to ensure safe, high-quality apps on Google Play and to stop bad actors before they can cause you harm," said Google's Suzanne Frey. "In 2024, we prevented 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play. "And banned more than 158,000 bad developer accounts that attempted to publish harmful apps." Google said these apps would feature "digital traps" aimed at unsuspecting victims. And it revealed how the Play Store runs "over 10,000 safety checks" on every single app. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes PLAY PROTECT Google is also urging Android phone owners to keep the Play Protect setting switched on at all times. It's a special feature that scans the apps on your phone to make sure they're not dodgy. You can find the feature by going into the Google Play Store app. Now tap Profile > Play Protect > Settings and turn on Scan Apps With Play Protect. 3 Google Play Protect will scan your apps to make sure they're safe Credit: Google Google warns: "For security, we recommend that you always keep Google Play Protect on." This feature will run checks on apps before you download them. And it'll warn you about potentially harmful apps – even ones on your device. If there's an especially dangerous app, Google says that the feature can deactivate and even remove it from your device. WHAT CAN GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT DO? Here's the official list of actions it'll take... It runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store before you download them. It checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources. These harmful apps are sometimes called malware. It warns you about potentially harmful apps. It may deactivate or remove harmful apps from your device. It warns you about detected apps that violate our Unwanted Software Policy by hiding or misrepresenting important information. It sends you privacy alerts about apps that can get user permissions to access your personal information, violating our developer policy. It may reset app permissions to protect your privacy on certain Android versions. It may prevent an application from being installed that is unverified and uses sensitive device permissions that are commonly targeted by scammers to commit financial fraud. Picture Credit: Google You can also set Play Protect up to spot apps that you didn't download from Google's own store. So if you downloaded an app directly – from another store or website – then you can get that scanned too. Just go to the Play Store app, then tap Profile > Play Protect > Settings and turn Improve Harmful App Detection on. Google recently upgraded Play Protect with a special AI feature to become even better at tracking down dodgy apps. 3 You'll be warned if you have any unsafe apps trying to scam you or steal from you Credit: Google "Google Play Protect will use on-device AI to spot apps that might engage in fraud or phishing," Google's Menaka Shroff explained. "This live threat detection will analyze how apps use sensitive permissions and interact with other apps to spot suspicious behavior in real-time. "If Google Play Protect finds something that looks malicious, the app is sent to Google for additional review, and we'll warn users or disable the app if we confirm it's conducting harmful activity." The company said Play Protect is now scanning over 200 billion apps daily. And it's even been able to spot 13 million "malicious apps" targeting Android phone owners that weren't even available through the Play Store. If Google spots a dodgy app on your phone, you should receive a notification. You can then remove the app through the notification – or temporarily disable it. If you're an iPhone owner worried about dangerous spying, there are some settings you need to look at too. And Google recently warned all Android owners to update their devices with a security fix immediately.
