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Google App Verification Service Detects Only 15% of Infected Apps

Posted by samzenpus on from the low-expectations dept.

ShipLives writes "Researchers have tested Google's app verification service (included in Android 4.2 last month), and found that it performed very poorly at identifying malware in apps. Specifically, the app verification service identified only ~15% of known malware in testing — whereas existing third-party security apps identified between 51% and 100% of known malware in testing."

6 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Re:No problem here by schitso · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The solution.

  2. Re:It's a placebo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    First post bashes Windows 8 in completely unrelated story, modded +5 Funny already... yup, this is Slashdot. Looks like no one wants to talk about the malware problem on android, so let's bash Windows 8 instead!

  3. We've known virus scanners don't work since. by i+kan+reed · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What? 2000, maybe? More specifically, they're part of the test cases of virus writers, who develop until they are circumvented. Why would anyone imagine they do anything useful?

  4. I don't want/need this on my phone. by DavidClarkeHR · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, it's a good thing there are 3rd party options.

    I don't want/need additional bloat on my phone - I don't install random apps, and I'm quite comfortable wiping the phone to update it. Sure, I'll use a scanner if/when I start installing random things, but it's basic online hygene. I don't install random programs on my computer, but I do use a 3rd party antivirus because of all the browsing I do. That isn't something I do on my phone, and when it is, I will take the appropriate precautions.

    --
    - Nec Impar Pluribus, or so I'm told.
  5. Or maybe... by GeLeTo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The malware developers test and try to circumvent the Google scanner and don't bother with third-party security apps. If Google buys an app with 100% detection rate and uses it in their scanner, guess what the detection rate will be a few months later.

  6. Re:It's a placebo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What malware problem?

    You mean the "problem" where a user downloads an .apk from a warez site, sideloads it into their phone, the phone tells them "hey, this program is requesting permission to look at everything on your phone's internal storage, send information to who-knows-what internet server, and make phone calls and send SMS messages on your dime, are you sure you want to go through with installing this" and the the user clicks "okay"?

    That "problem"? I'm not seeing the issue, here. I mean, at some point it becomes the user's fault.