Google is going to make improvements to how it detects malware in apps on your Android phone

Google Play Protect checks 200 billion Android apps daily in an effort to defend 3 billion users against malicious assaults. The business revealed a new security feature that it stated would be included in Android 15 back in May at Google I/O. The AI powers of Google Play Protect will be leveraged by Google Play's live threat detection feature to monitor app requests for sensitive permissions and their interactions with other apps and services.

Users will receive a warning and the app will be referred to Google for review if live threat detection detects anything questionable. Google will disable the app if this review validates that it is harmful. It's interesting to note that a system that protects user privacy is used during on-device testing to search for suspicious behavior. Google's Private Computer Core is used for this, enabling Google to "protect users without collecting data." This cloud-based solution makes critical data computations safe and confidential by utilizing cryptography.

Android smartphones from Google Pixel, Honor, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Sharp, Transsion, and other makers will have Google's live threat detection before year's end. By obtaining authorization to use a phone's microphone, camera, and other features for that purpose, this feature should reduce the misuse of permissions by attackers attempting to steal personal data from device owners.

We shared a Cyber News analysis last month that ranked the top 50 riskiest apps available in the Google Play Store according to how many risky permissions they asked for. Facebook and Google Messages were two of the top five apps on that list. The top five risky permissions that these applications ask for are as follows:

After Notifications
Compose external storage.
Examine external memory
Record audio and use a camera (tie)
Examine media pictures

Developers were requested to submit a form by Google last month "If your app requests the use of sensitive or high-risk permissions (like SMS or call log)," Under such circumstances, Google notes that developers "may be required to complete the Permissions Declaration Form and receive approval from Google Play." The form needs to be turned in by this month's end. Developers will not be allowed to update their apps in the Play Store if the form is not submitted in a timely manner.