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Google made a big deal of the new Google Play Protect system at this twelvemonth's Google I/O event, citing it as a strengthening of Android security. Later on a few months of waiting, Google Play Protect is commencement to roll out to devices. Even so, this isn't actually a new system; it'due south but a new manner to present the features that were already there.

Play Protect encompasses several features that were completely separate until now. There'southward malware scanning, lost telephone tracking and locking, and Chrome Safety Browsing. The anti-malware features leverage Google's machine learning platform to monitor apps for suspicious behavior, removing them from your phone before they can crusade damage. You lot may be perplexed, wondering if Android had congenital-in malware scanning earlier. Yes, information technology did, but Google was very bad at making that known.

Android'south antivirus capabilities were first deployed on devices in 2022 when Jelly Bean was still the latest and greatest. At first, information technology just scanned apps as they were installed, but the service moved to a continuous-scanning model in 2022. Thus, even an app that didn't look dangerous at installation could be caught red-handed if information technology tried to download a malicious module later. The only visible bear witness of this system working was deep in the system settings, so few users even knew information technology was a affair.

Even though Google had its own malware scanning platform, alternative apps like Lookout man, McAfee, and AVG accept been some of the most popular downloads in the Play Store. Why? They are visible and proactive about device protection, sometimes to the signal of being abrasive and causing organisation slowdowns. Still, Google is taking some lessons from these apps by making Verify Apps more visible as role of Google Play Protect.

Like Verify Apps, the new Play Protect features will be delivered to nearly all Android devices by a Play Services update. This happens silently in the background, so you may already have the updated version. Play Protect is featured prominently at the top of your installed app listing inside the Play Store. Information technology shows yous when the last scan was and confirms it found no issues. If in that location is a trouble, the app is removed and you get a notification. The button in the app listing lets you rescan apps, and a Googler I talked to confirms this does actually rescan apps — information technology's not only a placebo. There is also a revamped Play Protect menu in the settings that shows recently scanned apps, system status, and lets you turn off protection (yous shouldn't).

The rollout is in total swing, and then y'all probably already accept the new version of Google'due south security suite. Check the Play Store "My apps & games" folio to find out.

Now read: 25 All-time Android Tips to Brand Your Phone More Useful