Play Protect, Google’s malware protection system that prevents
the spread of harmful and unwanted software on Android devices, has received a
helpful new update. The system is now capable of detecting malicious apps as
well as AI, that hide themselves by altering their identifiable features.
The nature of these malware agents, called as ‘polymorphic malware,’ makes them difficult to detect, specifically for Google’s existing systems. Play Protect’s new feature will recommend users a real-time app scan at the time of installing previously unscanned apps. Google will then provide the user with information on whether or not an app is potentially harmful, following a code-level evaluation.
The main features that Play Protect offers include using on-device
machine learning and other methods for checking newly installed apps, running scans
on downloaded apps on a daily basis, and scanning apps prior to downloading
them.
All Android users who have their Android devices equipped
with Google Play Services have access to Play Protect. According to Google, the
system works to scan 125 billion apps every day. The upgraded Play Protect is
currently available in select countries and will be available in all regions in
the coming months.