Google has announced the expansion of the capabilities of Google Play Protect with the launch of a pilot program aimed at enhancing protection against fraud in India. This new security function is designed to prevent the loading of applications from third-party sources that bypass Google Play.
As part of the pilot program, applications will be analyzed to automatically block their installation if they request access to sensitive permissions commonly used by scammers. These permissions include access to SMS, notifications, and special capabilities that can be exploited to intercept passwords or track screen contents.
Google has reported that more than 95% of applications requesting such permissions come from third-party sources. Once the pilot program is initiated, Google Play Protect will automatically block the installation of any application in India that requests these permissions and provide an explanation for the block.
While users in India will still be able to download applications directly from the internet or third-party app stores, installations that request the listed permissions will be halted to ensure security.
Google also highlighted the success of existing fraud protection measures in India, which have prevented over $1.55 billion in financial fraud and sent 41 million warnings about fraudulent transactions to Google Pay users in the country over the past year. Additionally, Play Protect has helped identify 10 million malicious applications globally, with 900,000 dangerous installations blocked in Singapore alone.
The pilot program is set to launch in November and will be gradually implemented on all Android devices with Google Play services in India. Google underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to create a safe mobile environment, emphasizing partnerships with government agencies and industry partners to enhance user protection.
App developers are advised to review their requested permissions and adhere to best security practices to avoid being blocked within the pilot program.