Android Scanning Your Apps for Malware Protection
There is no doubt that as popular as Android is, the safety features and the security is not a strong point of the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. While there are a number of third party apps for Android security, there is nothing inherent in the operating system that implements security. You might have been made aware of in your Android training classes that developers have been focusing a lot on increasing the security features in the recent releases of Android OS. They finally seem to have come up with malware protection feature for the latest release of the operating system.
Scanning Apps Installed On Phone
Google had already introduced the system of scanning all the apps that were posted on the Google Play store for malware and other security vulnerabilities before authorizing them. According to reliable sources, they have used the same technique and incorporated in the latest release of Android. This system will scan any third party app installed on your Android device for any sort of security inappropriateness and malware. If so, the OS itself notifies you to either uninstall the app or uninstalls it automatically, depending on your security preferences. However, the same source quoted that the user can proceed and install the apps despite the warning of the OS. This move will be completely left to the discretion of the user.
SMS Scam the Major Threat in Android Malware
This move by Android comes at a time when a malware that ran an SMS scam on Android devices was identified. This particular malware would send anonymous text messages to the people in victim’s contact list and also communicate some private data with the hacker. This not only posed a security risk but also a huge privacy risk for users.
Authentication for Chargeable Services
In case you have to use any mobile service that deducts an amount from your mobile account, you will have to authorize the OS to complete the procedure. This security feature has been added to counter another type of malicious software that will unnecessarily charge the users by consuming data or making blank calls.
Security Still Not Sufficient
Despite all these additions, the security on Android devices is still not sufficient according to experts. They say that Android has a long way to go if it has to match up to the standards set by iOS and Blackberry in terms of security.
Please Share This Knowledge With Others!
Barry says
This would be great if they can do this because my computer is all the time getting some kind of malware or spyware on it and it slows everything down, that is the only reason that I know it is there. So I clean the computer and we go a few weeks and it starts all over again even with a security software on there. So this would be great.
Steve says
I think this is something that if you have a smart phone you almost have to have because what could malware do to your phone, if it effects your computer the way it does then I would imagine your phone would be worse. It is a shame that the security isn’t sufficient yet and I hope that they will get this figured out soon because there are so many.
Raymond says
It is interesting to me how not too long ago, it was iphones that dominated the mobile device market. Then, seemingly overnight, the android market exploded. Now, you see national TV and print ad campaigns promoting all kinds of smart phones that operate on the android platform. It just goes to show you that having a strong hold of a market share doesn’t last forever.
Ralph says
I did not know this was the case about the Android platform. But then again, I don’t even own a smart phone, so why would I even have a clue. I just assumed that because Android has become so popular (I think it is the most widely used mobile device platform), it must be an indication of its quality. Lesson learned: quantity does not equal quality.
Lena says
This was a great article I am glad that they came out with something like this because that is something that I hate about my computer is that it keeps getting malware on it and I have to go in and do a cleaning to it at least once a month because it starts running slow. I guess I never thought about that happening to your smart phone, but it Is a computer.
Kevin says
This move must have been in response to a plethora of attacks that the android platform has been getting through the many apps that are now being developed. I guess this platform has become so popular that hackers have decided to target it in order to reach the masses. That’s what happened to several popular platforms in the past. Windows 8 is now a prime target.
Beverly says
I think this is the best idea I have heard yet because you are dealing with a hand held computer that can get viruses just like your home computer can because you are going out on the internet to use it. This is a great app to have and I think that some of the security features that the security software has should also be able to be downloaded on there as well.
Charles says
Some long-time Apple iPhone fans are considering a switch to Android. But should these former iPhone fans worry that Android alternatives won’t be as secure? With cyber attacks and malicious apps targeting Android smartphones increasing in frequency, I can certainly understand why some former Apple devotees are nervous about making the switch. Makes you really think about the things this article is pointing out and bringing to light.