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    • Next Google Play update could strengthen protection against harmful apps (APK teardown)
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    Next Google Play update could strengthen protection against harmful apps (APK teardown)

    Pabio Posted on

    Google Play Store logo on smartphone stock photo (4)

    Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

    TL;DR

    • Google is testing a new feature that could allow Play Store users to pause Play Protect instead of disabling it.
    • Many users turn off Play Protect when sideloading apps, but forget to turn it back on, which could lead to the installation of malicious apps.
    • The change could better protect users from bad apps by automatically enabling Play Protect after a day’s break.

    Google Play Protect runs security checks on all Android apps before you download them, to ensure they are safe to use. However, this may interfere with the installation of apps that are not from the Google Play Store or have not been verified by the tool. When sideloading apps, many users choose to disable Play Protect to avoid blocking third-party downloads. However, it is important to re-enable Play Protect afterwards. Failure to do so could leave your device vulnerable to malicious apps, especially if attackers use social engineering to trick you into downloading harmful software in the future. Google appears to be working on a solution that could help remedy this user oversight.

    You are reading a Authority information story about Android Authority. Discover Authority information for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won’t find anywhere else.

    A APK Teardown helps predict features that might come to a service in the future based on current work code. However, these planned features may not be available in a public release.

    An APK investigation of the Google Play Store app version 43.4.23-31 revealed that Google is working on a feature that will allow users to temporarily suspend Play Protect instead of disabling it completely.

    Pause playback Protect

    AssembleDebug / Android Authority

    When available, users will be able to pause Play Protect for a day and the security tool will automatically activate the next day. The screenshot above shows the new setting and the accompanying prompt. Interestingly, the prompt also warns that “requests to pause or turn off read protection may be a scam.”

    The prompt to pause Play Protect will appear when users tap the button to turn it off. It’s unclear when the feature will be widely rolled out, but it should happen fairly soon.

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