Google Play Adds “Verified” Badge For VPN Apps

Google Play is announcing today that it is adding a new “Verified” badge to consumer-facing VPN apps. This badge is currently only being used on VPN apps, like NordVPN.

The reason for this new badge is to highlight apps “that prioritize user privacy and safety, help users make more informed choices about the VPN apps they use, and build confidence in the apps they ultimately download,” Google says. This works with the existing features Google Play has, such as a banner for VPNs and a Data Safety section declaration on App pages.

NordVPN is one of number of VPNs with this badge, “We’re excited that the new ‘Verified’ badge will help users easily identify VPNs that meet high standards for security and privacy. In a market where trust is key, this badge not only provides reassurance to customers, but also highlights the integrity of developers committed to delivering secure and reliable products.”

This Verified Badge isn’t easy to get

In Google’s blog post, they also tout how this badge is actually not that easy to get. It’s not as simple as checking a box. Google says that it is proof “that your VPN app invests in app safety.” It signifies that your app has “gone above and beyond, adhering to the Play safety and security guidelines and successfully completed a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation.” Essentially, it means that you can trust this VPN app, and that it isn’t a piece of malware.

Google has also outlined what a VPN app has to do to be considered for the VPN app. This includes completing the MASA Level 2 validation as mentioned above. The developer needs to have an Organization developer account type, meet target API level requirements for Google Play apps, have at least 10,000 installs and 250 reviews, be published on Google Play for at least 90 days, and submit a Data Safety section declaration. This means a brand new VPN app can’t get the “Verified” badge.

The whole reason for this is to create a safer and more transparent Google Play ecosystem.