Bleeping Computer reported that Android's built-in Google Play Protect malware defense system could only detect 2/3 of the 20,000 malicious app sample library, so it failed AV-TEST's latest security tests. It is reported that the security detection service, launched at the Google I/O conference in May 2017, automatically scans more than 100 billion apps every day.
In July 2017, Google began rolling out Google Play Protect to all Android devices. Since then, this security inspection service has been deployed to billions of devices and is currently protecting more than 2.5 billion active devices.
(From AV-TEST)
However, based on the evaluation results of 15 Android security apps tested by AV-TEST in January-June 2021, the actual performance of Google Play Protect is still lagging behind.
Malware detection rate
Although it always runs and scans every app installed and launched on the device, Google Play Protect is only at the bottom of the security list compared to other security software in the persistence test program.
1 - Bitdefender Mobile Security
In a 5-month persistence test, Google Play Protect detected just over 2/3 of the 20,000 malware sample library in just three rounds of testing.
2 - G DATA Mobile Security
Each round of testing involves detecting more than 3,000 newly discovered malware samples in up to 24 hours and comparing them to more than 3,000 samples from other most months.
3 - McAfee Mobile Security
AV-TEST states that in real-time and reference set testing, all five applications were able to detect 100% malware samples at all times.
However, Google Play Protect at the bottom only detected 68.8% of it in the real-time test, and 76.6% of it in the reference set test.
4 - NortonLifeLock Norton 360
Among mobile security apps that passed all tests, Bitdefender, G DATA, McAfee, NortonLifeLock, and Trend Micro all had perfect 100% checkout rates.
Google Play Protect also incorrectly mistakes AV-TEST for potentially malicious apps out of nearly 10,000 harmless apps installed from the Play Store and third-party Android app stores.
5 - Trend Micro Mobile Security
Looking back at last year, this Android built-in service also got the bottom of 6 in the protection test. But this time, at least 37 percent of the 3300 newly discovered samples and 33.1 percent of the 3300 malware reference sets were detected in at least a maximum of 24 hours (up to four weeks of loop testing).
In view of this, AV-TEST has to recommend that Android device users use more reliable security detection software to avoid Google Play Protect dropping the chain at a critical moment.
Previously, last year, Google partnered with ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to build an App Defense Alliance to improve Android malware detection and blocking before submitting to the Play Store.
However, as of press time, Google has not immediately responded to foreign media comment requests.