Google forms alliance with some Android security specialists
The App Defense Alliance brings together Google, ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to combat baddies on Android.
November 6, 2019
The App Defense Alliance brings together Google, ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium to combat baddies on Android.
Considering how huge and diverse the Android ecosystem is it’s surprising how few malware catastrophes it has had. Maybe that thanks in part to the work of companies like Lookout, that offer freemium security apps on the Play Store. Google has apparently decided to be a bit more proactive on the security front itself, but without undermining all the good work that has already been done, hence the creation of the App Defense Alliance.
Working closely with our industry partners gives us an opportunity to collaborate with some truly talented researchers in our field and the detection engines they’ve built,” blogged Dave Kleidermacher, VP, Android Security & Privacy. “This is all with the goal of, together, reducing the risk of app-based malware, identifying new threats, and protecting our users.”
The clever bit involves integrating the Google Play Protect detection systems with each partner’s scanning engines. This will result in several pairs of eyes having a close look at apps that are in the queue for publication on the Play store and, in theory, resuce the chances of any of them containing any moody code.
Judging by an interview Kleidermacher gave Wired, from Google’s perspective this is all about coordinating the security efforts of a bunch of previously autonomous players. What’s in it for the other partners isn’t so obvious. In the Wired article they said all the right things about being greater than the sum of their parts, but we wouldn’t be surprised if a bit of Google cash helped persuade them too.
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