Security News > 2020 > February > Google: Efforts Against Bad Android Apps on Play Store Are Working

Some of the efforts Google has made over the past few years to bolster the security of Android app users as well as the mobile apps available on its Google Play store are starting to work, according to the tech giant.

"Over the last few years we've made the trust and safety of Google Play a top priority, and have continued our investments and improvements in our abuse detection systems, policies, and teams to fight against bad apps and malicious actors," Andrew Ahn, Product Manager, Google Play and Android App Safety, wrote in a blog post this week.

As recently as last month, Google said it removed 17,000 Android apps to date from the Play store that have been conduits for the Joker malware, noting that its operators have used "Just about every cloaking and obfuscation technique under the sun in an attempt to go undetected," the company said at the time.

As another weapon in its fight against bad Android apps, Google that same month unveiled an alliance with outside firms to help stop malicious apps before they get to Google Play.

Looking ahead, key areas of Google Play security Google plans to continue to focus on include: Strengthening app safety policies to protect user privacy; faster detection of bad actors and blocking repeat offenders; and detecting and removing apps with harmful content and behaviors, Ahn said.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/google-efforts-against-bad-android-apps-work/152851/