TL;DR – Instead of sifting through reviews or worrying about hidden risks, you can now look for the Verified badge to find reliable options.
Google has introduced a Verified badge for VPN apps on the Play Store, making it easier to identify safe and trustworthy services.
- Google Play now offers a Verified badge for VPN apps, ensuring better security.
- Many VPNs are dangerous, selling data, injecting malware, or offering weak encryption.
- Verified VPNs must pass strict security checks, making them safer to use.
- The badge helps users quickly identify reliable VPNs on the Play Store.
- A few VPNs, like NordVPN and hide.me, are already verified, with more to come.
The badge ensures that VPNs meet strict security standards, helping users avoid shady apps that do more harm than good.
GOOGLE PLAY NOW VERIFIES VPN APPS – HERE’S WHY IT MATTERS
Google is rolling out a Verified badge for VPN apps on the Play Store.
This new feature helps users easily identify apps that meet rigorous security and privacy standards, reducing the risk of downloading a dodgy VPN that could compromise personal data.
If you’ve ever struggled to figure out which VPNs are actually safe, this is a game-changer. Instead of sifting through reviews or worrying about hidden risks, you can now look for the Verified badge to find reliable options.
THE PROBLEM WITH DODGY VPNs
Not all VPNs are built with privacy in mind.
In fact, many free or poorly reviewed VPN apps:
- Sell your data – Instead of protecting your privacy, they harvest and monetise your browsing habits.
- Inject ads and malware – Some VPNs actively insert ads into websites or even spread malware on your device.
- Offer weak encryption – Many fake VPNs claim to encrypt traffic but fail to do so, leaving your data vulnerable.
- Log everything – A VPN should provide anonymity, but some apps log your activity and share it with advertisers or even authorities.
This is why Google’s Verified badge is crucial—it filters out these untrustworthy services and highlights the ones that actually protect you.
WHAT IS THE VERIFIED BADGE?
The Verified badge is a stamp of approval for VPN apps that comply with Google’s strict safety and security standards.
It appears as a shield with a checkmark and the word “Verified” beneath it.
You’ll find this badge in:
- Search results – Making it easy to spot verified VPNs before downloading.
- App details pages – Giving you a clear indicator of a VPN’s trustworthiness.
WHY DID GOOGLE INTRODUCE THIS?
The VPN market is flooded with options, making it difficult to distinguish good apps from dangerous ones.
This badge serves two key purposes:
- Protecting users – It ensures people can easily identify VPNs that actually safeguard their data.
- Helping quality apps stand out – Legitimate VPN services get recognised while shady ones struggle to gain traction.
HOW DOES A VPN QUALIFY FOR VERIFICATION?
Google doesn’t hand out the Verified badge to just any VPN. To earn it, an app must:
- Comply with Google Play safety standards – Meeting strict privacy and security guidelines.
- Pass the Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 – A deep security evaluation that ensures proper encryption, no data leaks, and no shady practices.
This means only top-tier VPN apps will receive verification, helping users avoid untrustworthy alternatives.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR USERS
With the Verified badge, users can now expect VPNs that:
✅ Secure data properly – No weak encryption or data leaks.
✅ Are transparent – Clear policies on data collection and storage.
✅ Are easy to identify – No more second-guessing or researching dodgy VPNs.
This move is especially important as more people become concerned about online privacy, especially with governments and advertisers increasingly tracking web activity.
OTHER GOOGLE PLAY SECURITY FEATURES
The Verified badge isn’t replacing Google’s existing security tools—it works alongside them. These include:
- Data Safety section – Shows what data an app collects and how it’s used.
- VPN-specific banners – Clearly mark apps that provide VPN services.
Together, these features create a stronger safety net for users on the Play Store.
WHICH VPNs ARE VERIFIED SO FAR?
Currently, only a few VPNs have earned the badge, including:
More VPNs will likely join this list as they complete the verification process. Our advice, as always, however, is to go with Proton VPN – it’s the product of a Swiss-based privacy company and they’re the best and most secure in the biz.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR THE VPN MARKET
The VPN industry is full of scams, and this badge raises the bar for developers. For legitimate VPN providers, it’s a way to stand out and prove their commitment to user security.
For users, this badge eliminates much of the guesswork when choosing a VPN—no more worrying about data leaks, fake encryption, or hidden spyware. Google is making it safer and easier to find trustworthy VPN apps, which is a huge win for online privacy.
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