Despite there being safeguards, it can still be quite a minefield when navigating the Google Play Store for apps. To help make things a little easier, the internet search giant is adding an Independent Security Review badge to some apps to indicate that they are, to a greater extent than others, safe to download and use.
As per its Security Blog post, Google says that the badge signifies that an app has passed the Mobile App Security Assessment (MASA). The standard was introduced last year, letting app makers submit their work to be “independently validated against a global security standard”.
That being said, while these apps are certified to be secure, Google makes sure to include a caveat that they are not immunte to vulnerabilities entirely. After all, cybersecurity is also a constant arms race, with new vulnerabilities being discovered and abused all the time. After all, the Independent Security Review badge only indicates that the apps with them meet “baseline security standards”.
As for which apps are getting this Independent Security Review badge, Google says that VPN apps are first in line. Which make sense, as VPNs would technically get access to your entire browsing activity log when it is switched on. Users can also hit “Learn more” to be redirected to the App Validation Directory, which lists all VPN apps that have gone through the review process. The post does not mention when the badge will be added to other categories of apps just yet.
(Source: Google)
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