Google Introduces ‘Bouncer’, The Malware Scanner For Android Market

Posted on Feb 3 2012 - 5:23am by Editorial Staff

Google yesterday revealed a service that it had developed, codenamed Bouncer – which provides automated scanning of Android Market for potentially malicious software without disrupting the Android’s user experience or requiring developers to go through an application approval process.

Last year Android ecosystem accounts for increase of 250% YOY in device activations and the total number of app downloads topped with 11 billion. With this new service, the search engine giant will performs a set of analyses on new applications, applications already in Android Market, and developer accounts.

It will work as 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.

In addition to using new services to help prevent malware, the company also designed and developed Android from the initial stage to make mobile malware less disruptive. Malware has more potential to misuse your information in the PC model.

Android’s core security features:

  • 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.
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