Old Apps Installed on Phones Pose a Major Risk; Google Steps In to Help

Unused Apps Risk: We only regularly use a fraction of the apps installed on our phones. Apps installed for a specific task a year ago often remain on the device—even if never opened again—and there can be many such apps. Most people download apps and then forget about them, never using them. Few realise that unused apps can become a major problem. Google is aware of this risk and is introducing a new update for users.

How do old, unused apps become a threat?

"Old" in this context doesn't simply mean apps that have been around for years; we have used apps like YouTube and Facebook for years, and they receive regular updates. The danger arises when developers stop updating an app or when Google removes it from the Play Store. Such apps fail to upgrade alongside the phone's system, making them easier to hack. Once developers abandon an app, there is no one left to upgrade it, making it child's play for hackers to exploit its security vulnerabilities.

Google's current system is insufficient.

Currently, Google's Play Protect scans apps. It scans the device and blocks malicious apps. It notifies the user if an app is found stealing credentials or accessing data and files beyond its granted permissions. While this helps detect dangerous apps, it fails to identify apps that have been delisted or are no longer being updated by developers. Google is now taking steps to bridge this gap. Google to Introduce This New Feature

Google will now notify users about apps that are being removed from the Play Store. A new feature for this purpose is currently being tested. Once available, if an app installed on a user's phone is removed from the Play Store, Google will inform the user via a notification. Based on this information, the user can decide whether to keep the app or delete it.