In this day and age, coming across malicious entities on the internet, and especially something like phishing, isn’t something that is new. Lately, such attacks have seen a steep rise in frequency, and many unsuspecting victims have become targets of these attacks. It is paramount that you crosscheck every app or website before logging in or entering your sensitive information.
But now, it appears that Google could be taking a stand against phishing on Android and preparing to add a new feature that will detect malicious apps, as per a report by Android Police.
Mishaal Rahman, an Android expert and journalist, found a “scanning for deceptive apps" page in Settings > Security and Privacy > More security and privacy in the latest Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2. The report says that once you enable this feature, Android will keep track of apps to check for “phishing and deceptive behavior." If something is found, app data is shared with Google Play Protect to confirm the threat and warn users.
The report adds that it isn’t clear how Android does this, as there isn’t any formal literature for this feature yet. However, the source code of Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 has a new system service named “Content protection," and this could be checking for common-password-related strings like “password." Moreover, things like being a system app or one that needs internet permission are also reported to be checked.
It remains to be seen when or if this feature officially makes its way to a public build of Android. However, it is essential to adopt good digital hygiene practices to prevent the installation of such apps in the first place. As a general rule, refrain from downloading random APK files for sideloading from the internet. Hackers often exploit users seeking free downloads of paid apps. Additionally, always verify domain names to distinguish between legitimate and fake websites.
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