Tech Desk 
Jan 29, 2025
Google Play on Tuesday, introduced display verification badges on approved VPNs as a way to “highlight apps that prioritise user privacy and safety.” The new badge will be showcased on a VPN app’s details page and within search results, proving that it meets specific standards outlined by Google.
To qualify for the new verification badge, VPN apps must complete a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 validation, which evaluates an app’s security.
Moreover, VPNs must have at least 10,000 installs and 250 reviews, be published on Google Play for at least 90 days, submit information on how they collect user data and opt into independent security reviews.
Google noted that while “other factors contribute to the evaluation,” completing these requirements “significantly increase[s]” a VPN app’s chance of getting a verified badge.
The update has good timing, as many users are installing VPNs, some of which may not be secure, in order to gain access to TikTok.
VPN apps from Nord, hide.me, and Aloha have already received a verification badge. This builds on Google’s efforts to give more transparency and security in the Play Store.
Earlier in 2022, the company rolled out privacy labels and later introduced a badge showing whether an app received an independent security review.
