Malware has plagued Google’s online store (Google Play) ever since the app offering was known as the Android Market. You may be thinking the search giant is sitting on its laurels, while your Android device such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 or the HTC One X is more susceptible to threats. Thankfully, Google is doing something about with a malware scanner on the works.
Android Police has delved deeper into the new APK release of Google Play and dug up the “App Check” buried inside the code. The App check is likely to be installed on Android-powered devices, which detects threats.
Based on the discovered code, the App check will function in two different ways. The first function scans the apps installed on your tablet or phone to check if any of them are infected.
The second function scans new apps. If malware is detected, the installation will be stopped and blocked. Users can override these functions if they desire.
Buried within the code are images as well. These include an image of a shield, which indicates that everything is “All-good’, and an image of an exclamation point enclosed in a triangle, which indicates “Oh no” there’s a threat.
Although evidence of the App Check has been found buried within Google Play’s APK code, the feature is not yet available for Android devices. So be overly cautious when you install apps downloaded from the online store.
When the App Check does roll out, it will function alongside “Bouncer” (Google server’s malware protection software that scans the Google Play Store for threats). Bouncer will protect Google Play from dodgy apps, while App Check will check and protect Android devices from possible threats.
Can’t wait to get App Check protecting on your Android device? We’ll keep you posted once the malware scanner goes live.
