Google Play Security Report Shows Decline in Malicious Apps
Google has reported a significant downward trend in the volume of malicious software attempting to infiltrate the Google Play Store throughout 2025. According to the company’s latest Android app ecosystem safety report, the integration of advanced AI models and more rigorous security protocols has acted as a deterrent, discouraging bad actors from targeting the platform.
The data suggests that the barriers to entry for developers have become increasingly difficult to bypass. Google successfully blocked 1.75 million apps that violated platform policies from reaching the store last year. This figure represents a notable decline compared to the 2.36 million apps rejected in 2024 and 2.28 million in 2023.
Shifting Tactics and Security Upgrades
The reduction in malicious activity is also reflected in the number of banned developer accounts. In 2025, Google terminated over 80,000 accounts associated with the distribution of harmful software, a sharp decrease from the 158,000 accounts banned in 2024 and 333,000 in 2023.
Google attributes this success to a multi-layered defense strategy, which includes:
- Mandatory pre-review checks and stringent testing requirements.
- Enhanced developer verification processes.
- The integration of generative AI models to assist human reviewers in identifying complex malicious patterns.
- Routine re-checking of applications even after they have been published.
The company now performs over 10,000 distinct safety checks for every app submitted to the store. Looking ahead, Google confirmed plans to further scale its AI investments throughout 2026 to stay ahead of evolving digital threats.
Outside the Play Store
While the Play Store environment has become more secure, the report highlights a rise in threats originating from external sources. Google Play Protect, the security system embedded in Android devices, identified and blocked 27 million new malicious apps outside of the official store last year. This is a significant jump from 13 million in 2024 and 5 million in 2023, suggesting that cybercriminals are increasingly attempting to bypass the Play Store entirely to reach users.
Additional security milestones for 2025 included:
- Preventing 255,000 apps from accessing sensitive user data excessively.
- Blocking 160 million spam-related ratings and reviews.
- Mitigating the impact of review bombing, preventing an average 0.5-star rating drop for targeted applications.