Google’s malware scanning Play Protect service will now automatically turn off an Android app’s permissions if it’s potentially harmful. The feature is designed to prevent malicious apps from having access to your phone’s storage, photos, camera, and more.

Google has confirmed it has blocked more than 2.3 million apps as it publishes a new Android and Google Play security update—what you need to know.

We’re talking permission abuse, which has always been a serious threat to users. A new report is just the latest “alarming” wake-up call, “uncovering alarming security and privacy concerns.” This latest research has also exposed “hardcoded secrets embedded within some apps… which poses a serious risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.”

Google has broken down how it protected Android users in 2024 by blocking apps, banning developers and adding enhanced security.