SecurityWeek reports that billions of "harmful" app installations have been averted by Google after blocking 1.2 million apps from the Google Play store.
Google has also banned 190,000 bad accounts, as well as shut down nearly 500,000 abandoned or inactive developbrer accounts. In an effort to strengthen security and privacy within the Android operating system, Google has already unveiled new developer compliance tools, bolstered SDK safety, restricted sensitive API and data access, and introduced novel malware detection features for its Pixel phone line.
To better combat the continued prevalence of malware and scam apps that spread the Xenomorph, Facestealer, and Sharkbot malware in the Google Play store, Google has formally introduced the new Data Safety section within Google Play would require app developers to detail collected user data, if any, and disclose whether such data is shared with third parties, as well as their security practices.
Google first announced the initiative last May.
