It promises less malware downloads on Android devices

Feb 3, 2012 08:44 GMT  ·  By

Today, Google announced the release of a new service for its Android Market. Dubbed Bounce, it has been designed to scan the Market for any applications that might pose threats to Android users.

The number of applications in the storefront has increased significantly in the past few years, the same as the amount of devices out there. Thus, app downloads are higher too, and Google had to consider better security for the app portal.

Lately, more and more news on malware getting pass Google’s eagle eye and making it in the storefront has emerged. Some applications were removed from the portals, others remained untouched.

The bottom line, however, is that there was need for strengthening the security of Android Market, and that Google’s initiative with Bouncer is worth noticing.

Here’s what Hiroshi Lockheimer, VP of engineering, Android, explained in a recent post on Google’s mobile blog about how the new service works:

The service performs a set of analyses on new applications, applications already in Android Market, and developer accounts.

Here’s how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags.

We actually run every application on Google’s cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. We also analyze new developer accounts to help prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back.

According to Google, the level of Android malware downloads has been steadily decreasing lately. In the second half of the last year, the decrease was of 40 percent when compared to the first half, the Internet giant explains.

Companies who market and sell anti-malware and security software started to have a better look at applications in the Android Market, and reports on suspicious software alerted everyone.

While malware will continue to be developed, Google is determined to prevent it from reaching user’s devices. Moreover, the company notes that mobile malware is less disruptive on its operating system.

Android was created for Internet-connected devices, and is less likely for malware to misuse your information as it would be on the PC, the company notes.

Security features in Android would include:

Sandboxing: The Android platform uses a technique called “sandboxing” to put virtual walls between applications and other software on the device. So, if you download a malicious application, it can't access data on other parts of your phone and its potential harm is drastically limited.

Permissions: Android provides a permission system to help you understand the capabilities of the apps you install, and manage your own preferences. That way, if you see a game unnecessarily requests permission to send SMS, for example, you don’t need to install it.

Malware removal: Android is designed to prevent malware from modifying the platform or hiding from you, so it can be easily removed if your device is affected. Android Market also has the capability of remotely removing malware from your phone or tablet, if required.

Of course, this does not mean that Android devices are fully safe. But improvements are being made, Google says, noting that it is making its detection systems better and better, and that malware is being eliminated every day.