It’s not like the malicious actors have stopped looking… If they are finding fewer vulnerabilities, it sounds to me they should be paying more.

Translation: we really need more money to pay a bonus of some hundreds of millions to the CEO

In its email, Google states that it is closing down the program because of the "overall increase in the Android OS security posture and feature hardening efforts." This has led to researchers submitting fewer vulnerabilities than before.

1. Vulnerabilities are found, which shows that the program is successful and needed.
2. No vulnerabilities are found, no money will have to leave Google.

Keeping the program will reap the benefits from both no. 1 and no.2 while closing down the program only enables no.2.

Not hard to see the priorities here....

Google is shutting down the program due to its improved security measures

In its email, Google states that it is closing down the program because of the "overall increase in the Android OS security posture and feature hardening efforts." This has led to researchers submitting fewer vulnerabilities than before.

In its last annual report, Google claims to have stopped 2.28 million privacy-violating apps and banned 333,000 malicious developer accounts. Last year, it also announced major improvements to Google Play Protect, including real-time scanning for Android malware. More recently, it bolstered the Play Integrity API with in-app signals to prevent fraudulent activities.

These improvements are evidently working and have led to fewer vulnerabilities being discovered in Android apps and the ecosystem.

This is a giant invitation for hackers to look for more vulnerabilities.

All so some rich assholes can have yet another yacht.

Another reason not to use google play store for android apps