- A
Samsung Knox
Why wrong: Samsung Knox is a hardware-level security platform for enterprise, but it is not a standard Android feature on all devices.
- B
Google Play Protect
Play Protect continuously scans apps, including sideloaded ones, and can alert users to suspicious permission requests.
- C
Android Device Manager
Why wrong: This tool is for locating or wiping lost devices, not for scanning app permissions.
- D
Verified Boot
Why wrong: Verified Boot checks system integrity at startup, not app-level permissions or behavior.
Question 204 of 750
Google Play Protect: Scanning Sideloaded Apps for Malicious Behavior
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of mobile os features and tools. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
During a security audit, a technician discovers that a company Android device has an app that can read SMS messages and access contacts without the user's knowledge. The app was sideloaded. What built-in Android security feature could have prevented this?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is Google Play Protect. This built-in Android security feature continuously scans all installed apps, including those sideloaded from outside the official Play Store, for malicious behavior such as reading SMS messages or accessing contacts without user consent. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of Android’s default defense mechanisms against unauthorized app permissions and sideloaded threats. A common trap is confusing Google Play Protect with third-party antivirus or assuming it only scans apps downloaded from the Play Store—remember, it actively monitors sideloaded apps as well. For the exam, a helpful memory tip is “Play Protect patrols all paths,” reinforcing that it guards both Play Store and sideloaded installations.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Google Play Protect
Google Play Protect is the correct answer because it is Android's built-in security feature that scans apps for malicious behavior, including those sideloaded from outside the Play Store. It can block or warn about apps that request excessive permissions like reading SMS and accessing contacts without user knowledge. This feature would have prevented the malicious app from being installed or alerted the user before installation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Samsung Knox
Why it's wrong here
Samsung Knox is a hardware-level security platform for enterprise, but it is not a standard Android feature on all devices.
- ✓
Google Play Protect
Why this is correct
Play Protect continuously scans apps, including sideloaded ones, and can alert users to suspicious permission requests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Android Device Manager
Why it's wrong here
This tool is for locating or wiping lost devices, not for scanning app permissions.
- ✗
Verified Boot
Why it's wrong here
Verified Boot checks system integrity at startup, not app-level permissions or behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In this question, the trap is to think that any security feature like Verified Boot or Android Device Manager would prevent sideloading. However, only Play Protect actively scans apps for suspicious behavior and excessive permissions, regardless of installation source.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Google Play Protect uses on-device machine learning and cloud-based app verification to analyze app behavior and permissions, even for apps installed via sideloading. It checks against known malware signatures and can perform real-time scanning when an app is first launched. In a real-world scenario, a user might disable Play Protect to install a pirated app, which would then allow malicious SMS-reading apps to run undetected.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Mobile OS Features and Tools — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Mobile OS Features and Tools — This question tests Mobile OS Features and Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Google Play Protect — Google Play Protect is the correct answer because it is Android's built-in security feature that scans apps for malicious behavior, including those sideloaded from outside the Play Store. It can block or warn about apps that request excessive permissions like reading SMS and accessing contacts without user knowledge. This feature would have prevented the malicious app from being installed or alerted the user before installation.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.
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