Google Will Now Tell You Which VPN Apps Are Safe For Your Android Phone: Here’s How – News18

Last Updated:January 31, 2025, 09:00 IST

VPN apps are always in demand and Google is making sure that you install the genuine versions on the Play Store.

The VPN apps will now come with verified badge for the safe apps.

Google knows that the threat of fake apps on the Play Store has become an issue that is unavoidable, so the company is now doing its bit to make sure that people download apps that are genuine and not planted by bad actors.

Google will now allow you to install verified VPN apps so that you don’t download any malicious version which can inadvertently steal your data and hijack access to the device. We’ve seen this happen with government apps in India and other countries last year, and now VPN is the next category to get extra attention from the security team at Google.

Using VPN The Safe Way

VPNs or virtual private network apps are helpful when you want to browse the internet without revealing your IP address or unlock platforms that are generally not available in your area. The free VPN app section is littered with many options but Google now tells you the safe ones that can be installed on your phone and you don’t risk the security of the device and yours.

The verified badge is the first visible sign for you to know which VPN app is genuine. As you can see here for the Nord VPN app listing on the Play Store, the verified badge comes with a shield icon which means Google has approved the security standards of the app and that it follows all the rules of the Play Store ecosystem.

The company will also help you identify these verified VPN apps by promoting them which makes it easy to get the right app and download it.

Google is already offering genuine badges for apps that belong to Government entities. When you open the Play Store and search for apps like mAadhaar, Digi Locker or mParivahan, you will see the Govt icon right below the listing. When you tap on the badge, the pop-up box shows up with a message as seen below, saying,” Play verified this app is affiliated with a government entity.”

It is likely that Google will extend its verified program for more categories but having VPN is a useful addition from the company.

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Delhi, India, India