In November, online security firm Kaspersky noted that the number of users encountering apps that pose as free VPNs increased by 2.5 times, between just Q2 and Q3 of 2024

Google Play has blocked 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published and banned 158,000 developer accounts associated with harmful activities in 2024.

Google Play will now display verification badges on approved VPNs as a way to “highlight apps that prioritize user privacy and safety,” the company announced on Tuesday. The new badge will appear on a VPN app’s details page and within search results, proving that it meets specific standards outlined by Google.

Google has already announced a security-checking Google Play VPN badge system two times now, but it's here to announce it again.

Google Play is rolling out "Verified" badges for select VPN apps to make it easier for users to find trust services. Apps with the badge prioritize user

Google’s post recapping Play Store and Android protections in 2024 is live, while highlighting new Play Protect features, like during calls.

If you browse the Google Play Store on a desktop browser, you'll notice an "Install on Windows" button scattered around the website. This feature is seldom advertised, but it is part of Google's initiative to bring Android games to your Windows computer.

Google Play Protect is getting even more powerful, with new features designed to keep your Android device safe from malware and scams. One major update is the ability to automatically disable an app's permissions if it's deemed potentially harmful.

DeepSeek app has vanished from the Italian App Store and Google Play Store since the country's data watchdog filed a privacy complaint.

In 2024 Google claims that it blocked just over 2.3 million potentially risky Android apps from the Play Store mostly due to policy violations that would make them dangerous for Android users.

Using voice search in the Google Play Store is fairly simple. Just tap the mic icon and a pop-up will appear, prompting you to speak. While that pop-up gets right to the point and it’s immediately clear what it wants you to do, it could be more engaging. It seems Google has noticed this and is now working on a new UI for voice search.