Google May Soon Scan Your Android Apps For Malware

An anonymous reader writes "Is Google planning on integrating an antivirus scanner into Android? A just-released Google Play store app update, as well as the company's recent acquisition of VirusTotal seem to hint that yes, Google is looking into it. 'Google yesterday started rolling out an update to its Google Play Store app: version 3.8.17 from August was bumped to version 3.9.16 in October. Android Police got its hands on the APK and posted an extensive tear down. The first change noted was the addition of new security-related artwork (exclamation icons and security shields) as well as the following strings: App Check 'Allow Google to check all apps installed to this device for harmful behavior? To learn more, go to Settings > Security.''"

Comments

Re:Already installed Sophos on my phone

[VMaN]

I'm a bit confused as to how these non google security apps are supposed to police your phone when they aren't running with escalated privileges...

Don't scan my phone, scan your store.

[cimmerian]

Instead of scanning the apps that I choose to install on my phone, why not just scan the apps they allow on their Play Store? Then, if people choose to install applications outside of the store, it'll be at their own risk. Also, scanning the app ONCE on their store makes more sense than redundantly scanning it millions of times on each users phone.

Re:Except that the trusted rep is the source ....

[Nerdfest]

No, it's not. The vast majority of malware for Android (of which there's really not that much) is from alternative Chinese markets that carry copies apps.

Viruses are not the issue

[Skapare]

The real issue is apps with malicious design intentions ... like ones that track your activity for advertising.