Google Play Protect is the anti-malware security system developed by Google to protect and monitor all Android devices: it’s on all phones, but nobody knows it.
Very little knows this, but inside every recent Android phone and tablet (and Chromebook laptop as well) is a system created and remotely managed by Google to protect the safety of users. It’s called Google Play Protect, the anti-malware protection built into all devices that use the apps published in the Play Store, and it works silently to ensure that the user is protected from viruses.
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What Google Play Protect does
Google Play Protect is a cloud-based security mechanism. It starts from the principle that more and more threats reach devices through infected apps and less and less through exchanged files: even when we receive an infected file, perhaps via WhatsApp, this file almost always tries to download an infected app.
So Play Protect works on two fronts: the first is the Google Play Store, where it carries out a series of pre-and post-publication checks on apps and blocks dangerous ones (albeit not flawlessly, as the experience of recent years has shown); the second is the user’s device, from which it autonomously deletes all dangerous apps.
If, after a certain number of months from the publication of an app on the Play Store, it turns out that this app is infected, Play Protect not only deletes it from the store but looks for it on all Android devices on which it may have been installed.
In summary, therefore, the main functions of Google Play Protect are:
- check the security of Apps when downloaded or installed from the Google Play Store or external sources
- Periodically scan your device for malicious applications or any external threats
- warn the user if unwanted applications or behaviour are detected on the smartphone
- manage the Find My Device feature
- make browsing on Google Chrome safe
How Google Play Protect works
The strong point of Google Play Protect is that it is always active to monitor the applications installed and verify that the user does not inadvertently put the security and integrity of their device at risk.
The system protects the device and constantly checks the applications published on the Play Store to identify those that could harm users, allowing the Google team to remove them.
This service also perfectly integrates the Find my device function, which allows you to find, block, or reset your device to keep your data safe from prying eyes in the event of theft or loss.
Among the features of Find my device is also the one that makes a message appear on the screen to help those who find a lost device to return it to the rightful owner.
Finally, the service also works on safe navigation on Google Chrome, warning the user of unreliable sites or strange behaviour on the web.
Google Play Protect Compatible Devices
Google Play Protect is available on all smartphones and tablets with Android and Chromebooks, as they are certified by Google to use its operating system and all the apps on the Play Store.
To check if a device is certified by the company, go to the Play Store and, from the Settings menu, scroll to the Play Protect Certification item. It should say ” Certified device ” here.
Check The Status Of Google Play Protect
To check the status of Google Play Protect, you need to open the Google Play Store, swipe in the right-side menu, and tap the Play Protect item. In this section, it will be possible to check the system protection status with the latest analyzed applications and monitor the correct functioning of the security settings.
As already mentioned, Google Play Protect is active by default on all devices with Android; although inadvisable, it is possible to deactivate it by unchecking the item Search for security threats.
Also Read: APK: what Are Apk Files And How To Install Them On Android
