Google will soon scan the code of new sideloaded apps for malware

Google is bringing a malware feature to Google Play Protect in the coming months that will scan new, sideloaded apps to see if they are potentially harmful to the user. For this feature, Google sends part of the app code to Google’s servers.

When a user tries to sideload an app that has not been previously scanned by Google, users receive the notification that the app needs to be scanned. It doesn’t seem like users can skip this step and install the app without scanning. During scanning, ‘important signals’ from the app to be installed are sent to Google’s servers. For example, the function should better protect the user against apps that, for example, adapt themselves with AI in order to circumvent other antivirus methods.

The anti-malware feature is now being released in select countries, including India, and should become available globally in the coming months. Sideloaded apps were already checked for malware, for example whether the apps had previously been reported as malware. This includes scanning for new apps on Google’s servers.