What is Google Play Protect and how does it keep Android safe?

Google Play Protect is a security suite for Android that includes a malware scanner, Find My Phone, and Safe Browsing. Everything is built into the Android operating system and works automatically.

Android is open, flexible, and is all about choice. Unfortunately, that flexibility comes with more potential security issues. The good news is that Google has a system called Play Protect that helps keep Android safe.

Google Play Protect represents all of Google’s Android security philosophy under one name. Play Protect is a multi-part system, designed to keep your phone secure from front to back: it’s part malware scanner, part Find My Phone, and part Safe Browsing. Before we get into the details though, here’s how to find the Play Protect status of your device.

How to find Play Protect information on your device

To see if your device has Google Play Protect, open the Play Store, tap the profile icon in the search bar, then tap “Play Protect.”

The Play Protect page tells you if any harmful apps were found, the last time you scanned your device, and recently scanned apps. You can tap the “Scan” button to do a manual scan.

Tap the gear icon in the top right corner to access Play Protect settings. From here, you can turn Play Protect on or off and decide if you want to send unknown apps to Google.

That’s all there is to do with Play Protect on your end. Most of what Play Protect does happens behind the scenes. Let’s take a look at all the ways it protects you.

Play Protect malware scanner keeps your phone virus free

Play Protect’s main reason for existence is malware scanning. Uses machine learning to scan and verify over 50 billion apps every day, both inside and outside the Play Store.

Basically, on the back-end, Play Protect’s malware scanner checks every app that gets into the Google Play Store to make sure it’s a legitimate app. If something is detected, it is rejected (or removed) from the Play Store.

But Play Protect goes a step further to help keep your device safe even if you download apps. It not only scans apps on the Play Store, but also scans all the apps on your phone for malicious activity, no matter where they come from. If it finds anything suspicious, you will be notified.

Of course, like any malware scanner, it’s not perfect. Some things can go unnoticed, so it’s also up to you to be as smart as possible about software installation.

Play Protect’s Find My Phone feature protects your lost or stolen phone

If you’re getting that maddening feeling of not knowing where your phone is, you can use Play Protect’s Find My Phone to track your device without any setup required. Whether it’s lost or stolen, you can track the current (or last known) location of your phone.

And if it doesn’t seem like you’re going to get your phone back, you can use Find My Phone to remotely lock and wipe your device. That way, you can at least make sure your personal information is safe from prying eyes.

Play Protect keeps you safe on the web

Play Protect also integrates seamlessly with Chrome to keep you safe from malware on the web. If you spot malicious code on a website, you’ll be warned and redirected to a safe place.

This feature should also be familiar to anyone who uses the Chrome browser on a computer, because it’s the same basic concept. Chrome looks for any suspicious activity indicators and blocks them if something questionable happens.

Google Play Protect is an important part of the various security and privacy features of Android. Along with Google Play System updates and monthly security patches, it’s all designed to keep your device safe.