Google reports fewer harmful actors are attempting to infiltrate Google Play with malicious apps. The tech giant attributes this to its strengthened investments in advanced security systems and AI technology.
In its newest Android app ecosystem safety report released on Thursday, Google revealed it blocked 1.75 million apps violating policies from being launched on Google Play in 2025, which is a decrease from 2.36 million in 2024 and 2.28 million in 2023.
The annual report highlights Google’s efforts in protecting Android users by scrutinizing apps to guard against malware, financial fraud, privacy breaches, unauthorized subscriptions, and other dangers.
For example, Google stated it terminated over 80,000 developer accounts in 2025 that attempted to introduce harmful apps. This is a reduction compared to 158,000 in 2024 and 333,000 in 2023.
Google emphasized how AI investments and real-time defenses have been critical in combating such threats and deterring potential offenders.
According to Google, “Initiatives such as developer verification, mandatory pre-review checks, and stringent testing protocols have elevated standards within the Google Play ecosystem, substantially limiting entry for bad actors,” and that its “AI-driven, multi-layer protections” have been key in “discouraging malicious app publications.”
Google reports running over 10,000 safety evaluations on every app it releases, continuously re-evaluating them post-publication. Integration of the latest generative AI into app reviews has accelerated the identification of intricate malicious activities. Plans are underway to further invest in AI through 2026 to remain ahead of emerging threats.
Moreover, Google prevented over 255,000 apps from accessing excessive user data, down from 1.3 million in 2024. The company also blocked 160 million spam reviews last year, preventing an average 0.5-star rating drop from review bombing attacks.
Meanwhile, Android’s security system, Google Play Protect, identified over 27 million new harmful apps, issuing alerts or preventing the app’s function. This number increased from 13 million non-Play Store apps in 2024 and five million in 2023, indicating a trend where malicious actors are increasingly bypassing the Play Store when targeting users.