Android Blocks 27 Million Malicious Apps in 2025, Reducing Need for Third-Party Antivirus
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Aug 16
Android Blocks 27 Million Malicious Apps in 2025, Reducing Need for Third-Party Antivirus
3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Aug 16
Summary
Most Android users likely do not need a third-party antivirus app because built-in protections already handle the main malware risks on modern phones.
Google says Play Protect blocked 27 million new malicious apps from the Play Store in 2025, while app sandboxing, permission controls and regular security updates add automatic layers of defense.
Mobile threats still persist: a 2025 Gen report said malicious push notifications tripled in three months, and spyware remains a growing problem that Android is trying to counter with expanded AI threat detection.
Third-party antivirus can still make sense for higher-risk users — especially people who sideload apps, use older phones without updates, or want extra checks after using open public Wi-Fi.
Social-engineering scams, fake texts, spoofed calls and phishing links remain major Android risks, and user caution or tools like VPNs often matter more than antivirus software.