Google Play adds a ‘Verified’ badge for trusted VPN apps

Google Play is introducing "Verified" badges for certain VPN apps to help users identify trustworthy services. According to a blog post on Tuesday, apps that receive this badge are committed to user privacy and safety.

The badge signifies that the app developers have followed Google Play's safety and security standards and have passed a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation, ensuring the app has undergone rigorous security checks.

To qualify for the Verified badge, a VPN app must have at least 10,000 downloads, 250 reviews, and have been available on Google Play for a minimum of 90 days. Additionally, the app must meet Google Play's target API level requirements.

Google stated that the badge will help these apps stand out by appearing on their details pages and in search results. The company has also created new sections in Google Play to feature verified VPN apps.

"This new badge aims to highlight apps that focus on user privacy and safety, enabling users to make better-informed decisions about the VPN apps they choose and increasing trust in the apps they download," Google explained in the blog post.

This initiative is part of Google's ongoing efforts to promote and identify secure apps on its platform. Last May, the company introduced "Government" labels to mark official state and federal government apps on Google Play.

Source via Tech crunch