To give users more peace of mind and show that it takes Android cybersecurity concerns seriously, Google will highlight which Android VPN apps have undergone independent security audits by rolling out the Independent Security Review badge to highlight which Android VPN apps have undergone independent security audits.

Last year, the App Defense Alliance, a collaboration of Google, ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium launched in 2019 to address the persistent malware problem in the Play Store, introduced the Mobile Application Security Assessment ( MASA) audit. This process allows software developers to independently verify their apps against global security standards as a way to show users that what they are downloading to their phones is designed to meet minimum industry mobile security and privacy best practices. independently verified. The logic is that if developers go the extra mile to mitigate security vulnerabilities and allow users to make more informed decisions before downloading a new app, hackers will have a harder time breaking into a user's device, and as a result, the best Android phones with the best apps will improve the quality of apps across the ecosystem.

Apps that earn the badge have passed the MASA audit. To maintain their badge annually, app developers must undergo an independent audit each year. [Nataliya Stanetsky of the Android Security and Privacy Team wrote in a Google Security Blog post this week, "Certification to basic security standards does not mean that a product is free of vulnerabilities, but these certified badges associated with these certified apps help users see at a glance that the developer has prioritized security and privacy practices and is committed to user safety."

Currently, if you search for the best VPN apps in the Play Store, you should see a banner at the top pointing to the data safety section to better understand what the new badge means. Clicking on the "Learn More" option will redirect you to the App Validation Directory, "a centralized place to view all VPN apps that have undergone independent security reviews.

"We started this banner with VPN apps because of the sensitive nature and volume of user data these apps handle," Stanetsky explains.

"VPN providers such as NordVPN, Google One, and ExpressVPN have already undergone independent security testing and profess a badge of good standing with the MASA program," she added.

This is all part of Google's broader push to make the data safety section a one-stop store for understanding cybersecurity practices in the Play Store. There, you can also see details about what data apps are collecting, for what purpose, and whether it is being shared with third parties.

While focusing on the Independent Security Review badge is a start, there are many other ways to protect your phone from malware attacks. In addition to limiting the number of apps you install, consider using one of the best Android antivirus apps for extra protection.

But if you're on a tight budget, Google Play Protect is good in a pinch, since it scans both your existing apps and any new ones you download for malicious code. Google Play Protect recently added real-time scanning, so that every time you try to install a new app, Android's built-in antivirus software will prompt you to run an app scan to see if it's safe. If something dangerous is found, Google Play Protect will block the app and prevent it from being installed.