Starting on August 31, the Google Play Store will undergo a major cleanup, deleting thousands of low-quality apps to improve user security and privacy.
Background of the Cleanup
Google has been striving to improve the security of the Google Play Store for a long time. Despite these efforts, dangerous apps still occasionally slip through the defense mechanisms.
The upcoming deletion of low-quality apps is a strategy to reduce the risk of malware and other threats.
According to Forbes, Play Protect, Google's security system for apps, has been updated to perform deeper scans on devices in real-time using AI.
This update has enabled Google to remove "file may be harmful" warnings for users who have Play Protect enabled when downloading apps from third-party stores.
Despite these improvements, security firm Kaspersky recently discovered new instances of the dangerous Mandrake spyware in the Google Play Store.
These apps, published in 2022, managed to evade detection by Play Protect for over a year.
What Will Be Deleted?
Google has specified that the apps targeted for deletion include those lacking specific features, such as text or PDF files, apps with minimal content that do not offer an engaging user experience, and apps with no functionality at all.
This cleanup will impact the Google Play Store, and users should be prepared for the changes.
