Billions of Android users are warning to check their phones for “bank drain” apps now – they will steal anything they can

APPS on Google Play Store are usually safe, but sometimes malicious apps slip through the safety net.

If you’re worried about an app on your Android phone, or you’ve recently downloaded one from a third-party site, heed Google’s warning.

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Scam apps are dangerous for numerous reasons.

Many try to steal your personal information, sign you up for bank-robbing subscriptions, or simply bombard you with phone-busting ads.

This is why Android users should use Google Play Protect.

Google says: “Even if you download an app outside of Google Play, Google Play Protect will check the installation and may warn you about a malicious or harmful app.

“Play Protect also scans all apps on your device for malicious ones every day, even when you’re offline.”

Google Play Protect should be on by default, but if you’ve turned it off or accidentally denied permission to scan your phone, you can easily turn it back on.

Open the Google Play Store app and click on the profile icon.

Then select “Play Protect” and “Settings”.

Here you can check if “Scan apps with Play Protect” is enabled, or enable it manually.

While you’re in the Play Protect section of the Play Store, you can also turn on “Improve malicious app detection”.

Click Play Protect, Settings, then turn on malicious app detection.

Google says: “If you install apps from unknown sources outside of the Google Play Store, Google Play Protect may prompt you to submit unknown apps to Google.

“If you turn on the “Improve malicious app detection” setting, allow Google Play Protect to automatically submit unknown apps to Google.”