Google Play Protect Adds Scanning for Sideloaded Apps to Detect Malware Threats

Google Play Protect will prompt users to scan unknown apps before sideloading to help detect emerging threats like polymorphic malware.

It will perform real-time code-level scanning and send signals to Play Protect backend infrastructure for evaluation.

A prompt will appear when installing unscanned apps, giving option to scan or not install.

Once analysis is complete, users will know if the app is safe or potentially harmful.

This feature is rolling out starting in India and expanding globally in coming months.