The new feature will actively scan the apps on your smartphone for malicious activity and will mark apps that have been verified
Google is rolling out it Play Protect services, which are aimed at keeping Android users safe from malicious apps. The new feature will scan your smartphone to check the activity of apps. Further, the company notes that while all Android apps undergo security testing before appearing on the Play Store. The company notes that apps that have been scanned will have a card stating that the app has been verified by Google Play Protect.
“Backed by the strength of Google, Play Protect brings control to your fingertips while giving guidance along the way. Together, we lay out the ideal security blanket for your mobile device. Consider yourself covered,” the company stated on its page.
Google Play Protect also includes other services that were previously available. This includes the ‘Find My Device’ features that helps users locate, lock, or display a message on the lockscreen. If the user feels that the device is lost for good, they can even choose to erase all the data on the device. Another feature is the Safe Browsing protection feature in Chrome that warns users when they visit any suspicious websites.
Last week, Google had announced that it was looking to curb the spread of malicious apps on its mobile platform by using artificial intelligence. By using a technique called peer grouping, it uses machine learning algorithms to sort out malicious apps and bring them to the notice of a person. This person will then decide whether to remove the app from the Play Store. The idea is to find apps that may be asking for permissions that it should require. For example, a torch app that asks for access to contacts.
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