Google is cracking down on the large number of inferior apps in the Play Store as part of its latest effort to show that it takes Android security concerns seriously This week, Google announced stricter requirements for developers to follow if they want to publish their apps on the best Android phones via the Play Store

Previously, testing apps on the Play Console, Google's testing, management, and reporting platform for Android apps listed on the Play Store, was optional From now on, however, new individual developer accounts will have to test their apps with at least 20 people for a minimum of two weeks before they are allowed to be listed on the Play Store This requirement is expected to begin in the next few days

This two-week timeline is to give developers the opportunity to gather feedback on bugs and security issues and patch them before the app is released to the public; in a post on the Android Developers blog, Google uses a testing tool developers, stating that they average three times as many installs as developers who do not These developers are also increasing engagement with their apps and games

"As more developers use new technologies in their mobile apps, apps on Play are becoming more sophisticated To ensure that we continue to provide a safe and reliable experience, our global review team spends a lot of time reviewing new apps to ensure that they provide a valuable user experience and comply with our policies without deceiving or defrauding users through their apps or activities outside of Play and compliance with our policies

Google also added that while it does not expect this new mandate to have a significant impact on the overall app review timeline, it may take longer to review certain apps, such as apps designed for children or apps that require certain device permissions [The badge indicates apps that have passed the Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) audit This process allows software developers to have their apps audited against global security standards as a way to show users that the apps they are downloading to their phones are designed to meet the industry's minimum mobile security and privacy best practices, as well as independent verification

Looking for this badge is one way to identify apps that otherwise appear legitimate while browsing the Play Store In addition to limiting the number of apps you install, consider using one of the best Android antivirus apps for extra protection

But if you're on a tight budget, Google Play Protect is good in a pinch, since it scans both your existing apps and any new ones you download for malicious code Google Play Protect recently added real-time scanning, so that every time you try to install a new app, you're prompted to run an app scan from Android's built-in antivirus software to check if it's safe If anything dangerous is found, Google Play Protect will block the app and prevent it from being installed