Security News > 2023 > November > Google Play will mark independently validated VPN apps

Roid VPN apps that have gone through an independent security validation will now be able to claim that distinction on Google Play with a prominent badge in their Data Safety section.

"We've launched this banner beginning with VPN apps due to the sensitive and significant amount of user data these apps handle," said Nataliya Stanetsky from Google's Android Security and Privacy Team.

The App Defense Alliance launched the MASA program last year to help developers independently review their apps based on the industry security standard.

"This signals to users that an independent third-party has validated that the developers designed their apps to meet these industry mobile security and privacy minimum best practices and the developers are going the extra mile to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. This, in turn, makes it harder for attackers to reach users' devices and improves app quality across the ecosystem," said Stanetsky.

To enhance app safety for its users, Google has recently improved Google Play Protect's real-time scanning at the code-level.

This is particularly important for apps downloaded from outside the Google Play app store as cybercriminals have been increasingly leveraging AI to build stealthy and hard-to-detect apps.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/11/06/google-vpn-apps-security/