Google Play Protect, the 'antivirus' for Android apps

Google's operating system for mobile devices, Android, has had significant problems with fullfilment of security requirements along its history. But Google has tried to deal with risks to users in many ways, and one of them is Google PlayProtect. Now, what exactly is it, and how is it responsible for protecting users? This natively integrated automatic security system gets the job done in a way 'silent' for the user.

Google Play Protect it is a security system. It was initially launched in 2017. Previously, the Mountain View company had been offering Android users the app 'Application verification', as an independent app, and that year was when it was redesigned and implemented, like Google Play Protect, within the application store itself. Because, as a system, it is made up of various technologies. One of them integrated into the app store and that automatically analyzes all apps for malware; another that integrates into Google Chrome analyzing the behavior of websites and blocking, if applicable, their activity.

Google Play Protect is not just an 'antivirus' for Android phones

And in addition to this, it also has 'Find my device', which is used for the remote location of a lost device, with remote formatting options. The key, in Google Play Protect, is that it is a comprehensive security system that is available both in the Android operating system and in Google applications and services. And that has machine learning algorithm and Artificial Intelligence for constant evolution and, of course, regular updates that constantly increase the security offered to users.

Although Google Play Protect works automatically, users can access the system by opening the Google Play Store application and clicking on the menu button, located in the upper left corner. This is where Play Protect is available, which allows us to run an analysis in search of malware manually and on all the applications that are installed in the memory of our smartphone. However, the default system settings already make the scan run periodically and without doing anything.

Also, in Settings, we can go to the Google section and, in Security, we will find the direct access to checking the status of the applications. However, this access takes us to exactly the same place as if we do it through the Google Play Store itself.


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