Google is working to make Android OS more safe so that users do not fall for modern scams, Sameer Samat, the vice President of Android Ecosystem at Google has said. In a long thread on X (formerly Twitter), Samat detailed how the company is bolstering the operating system’s security, primarily through new developer verification requirements for the Google Play Store.“Keeping users safe on Android is our top priority. Today, we’re sharing an update on our new developer verification requirements – why they are critical to fighting modern scams, and how we’re adjusting our approach based on community feedback,” Smaat said.Samat explained that fighting digital scams relies on preventing the “whack-a-mole” cycle that is often exploited by malicious actors.“Scammers rely on anonymity to scale their attacks. Right now, if we block a bad app, they can often just create a new app and try again,” Samat said.

The new developer verification process aims to halt this by requiring a real identity, making it significantly more difficult and expensive for scammers to repeatedly distribute harmful applications.

Adjustments based on community feedback

Google acknowledged that the stringent verification rules, while necessary for security, initially raised concerns among students, hobbyists and advanced users. In response to community feedback, the company is adjusting its approach to accommodate both groups:For students and hobbyists: Google is creating a dedicated account type that will allow new developers to build and share their creations with a limited number of devices (friends and family) without undergoing the full verification process. This ensures a pathway for learning and experimentation.For power users: The company is developing an advanced flow that will allow experienced users to opt-in to install unverified apps. Samat stressed that this feature is being designed “carefully to prevent coercion by scammers,” ensuring the ability to take risks does not become a new attack vector.