Google Play Protect blocked 27 million malicious apps in 2025, undercutting antivirus need
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Google Play Protect blocked 27 million new malicious apps from the Play Store in 2025, Google says. Built-in Android protections such as sandboxing and permission controls reduce the need for third-party antivirus apps for most users.
Key Facts
- Android runs each app in a sandbox with a secure user ID, blocking interaction with other apps.
- Malicious push notifications tripled in a three-month period in 2025, according to a Gen threat report.
- Google is adding phone call spoofing protection and expanding live threat detection to flag actions such as SMS forwarding.
- Google Play Protect alerts users to apps requesting sensitive data and resets permissions for apps unused for a while.
Android's Built-In Protections
Google Play Protect blocked 27 million new malicious apps from the Play Store in 2025 and regularly scans apps at installation and afterward. Android uses sandboxing to assign each app a secure user ID, preventing apps from interacting with one another. Modern Android smartphones receive regular security updates to patch vulnerabilities. The permissions system is opt-in and proactive, with Google Play Protect resetting permissions for apps unused for a while.
Evolving Threats and AI Responses
Malicious push notifications tripled in a three-month period in 2025, according to a Gen threat report. Spyware remains an invasive and growing problem on mobile devices, a later Gen Threat report found. Google is introducing phone call spoofing protection to block scammers impersonating high-risk calls such as those from a bank. Google is expanding live threat detection to catch suspicious app actions like SMS forwarding.
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Google Play Protect blocked 27 million malicious apps in 2025, undercutting antivirus need
