In September, Google Play removed 24 more malware-filled apps that amassed 500,000 downloads. Dubbed “Joker,” the company’s security team today detailed the very persistent “large-scale billing fraud family.”

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Google today announced the App Defense Alliance to “stop bad apps before they reach users’ devices.” This partnership sees the Play Store integrate third-party protections from ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium.

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As of last year, Google Safe Browsing defends 3 billion devices from nefarious links, sites, malware, and more depending on the platform. Starting this month, its protections now apply to the WebView used by Android apps that don’t open a browser or use Chrome Custom Tabs.

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Now on its fourth edition, Google today published the 2017 Year in Review of Android Security. The in-depth report highlights last year’s launch of Play Protect, as well as platform level changes as a result of Android Oreo.

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Bluetooth is an important part of just about any phone today with many using it for connecting headphones, syncing with their cars, and using wearables. Needless to say, it’s frustrating when it doesn’t work properly, but even more so when it just stops working. Recently, a few Moto G4 owners discovered an interesting issue with Google Play Protect — it was disabling their Bluetooth functionality.

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To feature the Play Store and run Google’s first-party apps, Android manufacturers have always had to meet certain requirements. Google is now better showcasing them by branding phones and tablets that follow certifications as “Certified Android devices.” This more public initiative also coincides with Google Play Protect branding being featured on retail packaging.

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Much of “Google Play Protect” — announced back at I/O in May — is just a public-facing rebrand of security features that have long been part of Android. We saw of the beginning of its rollout when Verify Apps was rebranded with the Protect branding last month, and now the Play Store side of things is showing for some users.

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Announced at I/O 2017, Google Play Protect is essentially a rebrand of the company’s existing suite of security services for Android devices. In a statement, Google notes that it is beginning to rollout today in the Play Services app and coming soon to the Play Store.

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As with every new version of Android, we are getting a bunch of new features such as picture-in-picture mode, notification dots, and much more. But what is shaping up to be one of the best new additions with the forthcoming Android O is the company’s focus on the “vitals”…

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