Every other day, some security research firm releases a report in which it talks about the vulnerabilities in apps on Google Play Store. While the search engine giant has been doing its bit to keep its app store clean and free from malicious apps, developers somehow are able to seep in such applications. Google is now adding an extra layer of security by joining hands with ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to form the App Defense Alliance that will stop these bad apps before they reach users’ devices.
‘Fighting against bad actors in the ecosystem is a top priority for Google, but we know there are others doing great work to find and protect against attacks. Our research partners in the mobile security world have built successful teams and technology, helping us in the fight,’ Dave Kleidermacher, Vice President, Android Security & Privacy, said in a blog post. Google says that the Android ecosystem has over 2.5 billion devices and this popularity also makes it an attractive target for abuse.
Dubbing it as the ‘true of all global platforms’, Google said that working closely with its industry partners will help it reduce the risk of app-based malware, identify new threats, and protect people who use Android devices. The priority of the App Defense Alliance will be to ensure the ‘safety of the Google Play Store, quickly finding potentially harmful applications and stopping them from being published.’
‘As part of this Alliance, we are integrating our Google Play Protect detection systems with each partner’s scanning engines. This will generate new app risk intelligence as apps are being queued to publish. Partners will analyze that dataset and act as another, vital set of eyes prior to an app going live on the Play Store,’ Kleidermacher said. Google hand-picked these partners based on their successes in finding potential threats and their dedication to improving the ecosystem.
