Opera for Android has received Google Play’s Independent Security Review badge. Here’s what this means for your security

January 30th, 2025

Hey Opera users!

You might have seen that Opera for Android has achieved a new security-focused milestone: If you search for Opera for Android on the Google Play Store, you’ll notice a new Independent Security Review badge in the Data Safety section of the app page.

As part of an initiative from Google Play and the App Defense Alliance, the Independent Security Review badge is awarded to apps that undergo a Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2, performed by an independent security lab.

In the case of Opera for Android, the independent review was conducted by Leviathan Security Group, a cybersecurity firm based in Seattle, WA.

How the security assessment process works

The Mobile Application Security Assessment process is designed by the App Defense Alliance, an industry-leading collaboration launched by Google in 2019 and currently managed by The Linux Foundation, with the mission of protecting Android users from malicious apps.

MASA has been developed according to standards set by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), specifically the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS), together with OWASP’s testing criteria, known as Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG).

This extensive collection of acronyms ultimately means having a common standard for app developers to have their apps evaluated against. This helps developers to know exactly what to do to ensure a secure experience for users on the Play Store.

Level 2 of the MASA process involves evaluation and testing of the live app by an independent lab. The lab performs both automated code scanning and manual assessment in order to determine whether the app meets the necessary standards. After confirmation from the lab, the evaluated app gets its “Independent Security Review” badge.

The value of independent audits and reviews

Reviews and audits performed by credible, independent parties are an extremely important part of building trust online. As technology gets more complicated and misinformation proliferates, users find it more challenging than ever to know which products and services to trust.

Independent audits such as Google Play’s Independent Security Review and our recent no-log policy audit help give you more peace of mind that your experience remains secure and private.

As always, stay safe out there!