Google has announced an update to its Android protection system, Google Play Protect, aimed at detecting malicious apps that alter their specific features to avoid detection.
According to Google’s statement, “This enhancement better safeguards users against shape-shifting, multifaceted malicious apps that employ various methods, including artificial intelligence, to evade detection.”
This update comes in response to the rise of polymorphic malware, which current Google systems find difficult to detect.
Google Play Protect now recommends real-time scanning of apps during installation, especially for previously unchecked apps.
It also verifies recently installed apps and compares them with the current scans, utilizing techniques like on-device machine learning.
Following code-level assessments, Google sends notifications to users to inform them if an app seems safe or potentially harmful.
Google Play Protect is available on all Android devices equipped with Google Play services and currently scans 125 billion apps daily to prevent the spread of malware and other unwanted software.
The system scans apps before download and conducts daily scans to detect potentially harmful apps already installed on the device, regardless of whether they were installed from Google Play or elsewhere.
Researchers continue to raise concerns about the detection of Android malware in light of available protection measures.
In recent months, reports have highlighted numerous hacking campaigns that often distribute disguised malware in the form of legitimate applications, such as Chrome and YouTube, possibly tricking users into granting broad permissions to these apps.
Google’s statement indicates that download links for these malicious apps are often disseminated through ephemeral sources like messaging apps.
The company stated, “Ensuring the security of Android users is our top priority, and we remain committed to working with our ecosystem partners and app developers to enhance app security and combat malware and unwanted software to make Android a safe platform.”
Google has begun rolling out the new scanning feature in select countries, starting with India, and it will be available in all regions in the coming months.
