Google says its AI systems helped deter Play Store malware in 2025

In a notable shift, Google has reported a decrease in the number of malicious apps targeting its Play Store, attributing this positive trend to enhanced security measures and investments in artificial intelligence. In the company's latest report on Android app ecosystem safety, released Thursday, it was revealed that 1.75 million apps violating policies were prevented from being published in 2025. This marks a decline from 2.36 million in 2024 and 2.28 million in 2023. The annual safety report highlights Google's commitment to safeguarding Android users by rigorously reviewing and monitoring apps to shield them from malware, financial scams, privacy breaches, and other potential threats. The tech giant took decisive action by banning over 80,000 developer accounts in 2025 for attempting to submit these harmful applications. This figure represents a significant reduction from the 158,000 accounts banned in 2024 and 333,000 in 2023. Google emphasized how its investments in AI and advanced real-time security measures have not only combated threats but also deterred malicious actors from attempting to publish harmful apps. According to a blog post from the company, initiatives such as developer verification and mandatory pre-review checks have elevated the standards within the Google Play ecosystem, effectively limiting opportunities for bad actors. The implementation of AI-driven, multi-layered defenses has played a crucial role in this deterrence. The report also noted that Google conducts over 10,000 safety checks on each app submitted for publication, with ongoing re-evaluations even after the apps go live. The integration of the latest generative AI models into the review process has enabled human reviewers to identify complex malicious patterns more efficiently. Looking ahead, Google aims to further bolster its AI investments in 2026 to stay ahead of emerging threats. Additionally, the report highlighted that Google successfully blocked over 255,000 apps from accessing sensitive user data excessively, a significant drop from 1.3 million in 2024. The company also prevented 160 million spam ratings and reviews, averting a potential average 0.5-star rating decline for apps that faced review bombing. Meanwhile, Google Play Protect, Android's defense system, identified more than 27 million new malicious apps, warning users or blocking them from execution. This marks an increase from 13 million non-Play Store apps flagged in 2024 and five million in 2023, suggesting that malicious actors are increasingly steering clear of the Play Store when attacking users.