In the aftermath of WannaCry, many developers have taken the opportunity to promote apps that promise to protect Android Devices. While some apps provide advice, guidelines some claim to “protect” Android devices against his Windows-only threat. Is this an issue Google should taking a closer look at? Javvad Malik, security advocate at AlienVault commented below.
Javvad Malik, Security Advocate at AlienVault:
“We see criminals try to take advantage of many popular news stories, disasters, or even celebrity deaths in an attempt to spread malware or gain access to personal details via phishing or malicious apps.
Research showed that the apps contained no malware, which is probably why they were able to slip through Google’s security checks. But it does raise the question whether Google could be doing more to combat fake apps which do not deliver, or masquerade as something else. Of course, this opens up a whole wider debate that would not only be far more resource-intensive for Google to operate, but could unwittingly sweep up a number of innocent apps, such as novelty or fun apps.”
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