Google's Android smartphones are known for featuring more options and lower price tags, but have become notorious for security issues.  In particular, 97 percent of the mobile phones infected with malware in 2014 were Android phones. However, Google's annual security report shows that users of its Android OS who purchased apps on Google Play instead of third-party app stores are much less likely to be attacked with malicious software.

The yearly report shows that Google is taking steps to beef up security for its mobile devices. That includes continuous app scanning, monthly security patches, and better protection for Chrome users, according to Android Authority.

Google released its first security report for Android phones last year, while the newest report reviews the year 2015.

One big takeaway from the newest report is that Google scans over 400 million devices per day, or more than 6 billion installed apps. In addition, hundreds of millions of Chrome users have been protected from unsafe websites. Less than 0.15 percent installed potentially harmful apps (PHA).

Google also reports some security improvements for mobile apps installed from Google Play. Spyware dropped from 60 percent to 0.02 percent of installs, and hostile downloaders fell from 50 percent to 0.01 percent of installs.

Malware will continue to be a big threat to Android users who buy unofficial PHAs at third party app stores. However, for those who purchase them at Google Play the odds of being infected with malware are very slim.  

In related news, Google could be facing legal action from the European Union (EU) based on claims it gives its own apps an unfair advantage on smartphones running Android OS, according to The Independent. The complaint is that the EU allegedly uses exclusive contracts with phone manufacturers to bundle Google apps in its handsets.

Margrethe Vestager is EU's competition chief. She explains the EU is concerned that Google requires smartphone makers to pre-load Google apps.

If the EU rules that Google is guilty of antitrust practices the search giant could be fined up to 10 percent of its 2015 revenue of about $7.3 billion.     

However, Google spokesman Mark Jansen claims that Android users can use its phones with or without Google apps. They have the "last word."  

Here's how to avoid malware: