Expanding Google’s security services for Android
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Think about the ways your home is kept secure. You rely on structural security features—secure locks, a rock-hard foundation, strong windows and doors. You might also have an alarm or video camera to give you an extra layer of security, with a support team behind those tools making them more powerful, all but invisible until the moment you need them.
We have a similar approach to how we deliver security improvements in Android. As part of Android’s foundation, we built safeguards like application sandboxing, which confines apps, minimizing their ability to damage other parts of your phone. But just like your home, Google offers a built-in “service layer” (kind of like the phone equivalent of that alarm service for your home) to most every Android phone and tablet that’s constantly being strengthened, and it’s included for free. We’re adding to that service layer, further fortifying your Android phone or tablet.
Verify apps: now protecting you continually
Building on Verify apps, which already protects people when they’re installing apps outside of Google Play at the time of installation, we’re rolling out a new enhancement which will now continually check devices to make sure that all apps are behaving in a safe manner, even after installation. In the last year, the foundation of this service—Verify apps—has been used more than 4 billion times to check apps at the time of install. This enhancement will take that protection even further, using Android’s powerful app scanning system developed by the Android security and Safe Browsing teams.
Because potentially harmful applications are very rare, most people will never see a warning or any other indication that they have this additional layer of protection. But we do expect a small number of people to see warnings (which look similar to the existing Verify apps warnings) as a result of this new capability. The good news is that very few people have ever encountered this; in fact, we’ve found that fewer than 0.18% of installs in the last year occurred after someone received a warning that the app was potentially harmful.
Even though the risk is miniscule, we’re committed to making sure that the best available security protections are available to all Android users. This includes service-based protections such as Verify apps, as well as security features within the platform itself.
Posted by Rich Cannings, Android Security Engineer
We have a similar approach to how we deliver security improvements in Android. As part of Android’s foundation, we built safeguards like application sandboxing, which confines apps, minimizing their ability to damage other parts of your phone. But just like your home, Google offers a built-in “service layer” (kind of like the phone equivalent of that alarm service for your home) to most every Android phone and tablet that’s constantly being strengthened, and it’s included for free. We’re adding to that service layer, further fortifying your Android phone or tablet.
Verify apps: now protecting you continually
Building on Verify apps, which already protects people when they’re installing apps outside of Google Play at the time of installation, we’re rolling out a new enhancement which will now continually check devices to make sure that all apps are behaving in a safe manner, even after installation. In the last year, the foundation of this service—Verify apps—has been used more than 4 billion times to check apps at the time of install. This enhancement will take that protection even further, using Android’s powerful app scanning system developed by the Android security and Safe Browsing teams.
Because potentially harmful applications are very rare, most people will never see a warning or any other indication that they have this additional layer of protection. But we do expect a small number of people to see warnings (which look similar to the existing Verify apps warnings) as a result of this new capability. The good news is that very few people have ever encountered this; in fact, we’ve found that fewer than 0.18% of installs in the last year occurred after someone received a warning that the app was potentially harmful.
Even though the risk is miniscule, we’re committed to making sure that the best available security protections are available to all Android users. This includes service-based protections such as Verify apps, as well as security features within the platform itself.
Posted by Rich Cannings, Android Security Engineer
Is the rollout via a Google Play Services update?
ReplyDeleteIt must be because I already have it.
DeleteGreat. But what's this going to do to battery and performance? Some of us already have security software, such as Lookout. Would this not be redundant AND required since I assume this rolls out with Google Play Services?
ReplyDeleteAndroid rocks
ReplyDeleteHow will it come as an update our will we even kno we got it?
ReplyDeleteAside from security. I've just upgraded my galaxy note 3 to 4.4.2 and like many others all over the world am experiencing issues with signal and connectivity. I and thousands of others are posting requests for info and solutions everywhere and no one seems to want to reply to anyone with answers. ! The only answer that is feasible so far has come from those who have rooted their handset and reinstalled the old 'radio' setup from android 4.3 . I don't want to root my handset but feel this may be the only way to get a decent signal again.
ReplyDeleteSame here. I get very frustrated with the 4.4.2 . I always have been very happy with Android but that feeling is gone now. I was forced info those updates without needing them and now my good working Nexus 4 is turned into something that failes on bluetooth, volume control and it eats my battery. Google doesn't even communicate about this. Looks like google had become the same as Microsoft now, I have known google when they were young and had a social vision. Now they joined a consumer-bugging rat race.
DeleteDitto
DeleteAmmy lovelove
ReplyDeleteGoogle Account
ReplyDelete