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Android 15 Could Include App Quarantine Feature to Protect Users From Malicious Apps: Report
Android 15 is predicted to reach on Pixel smartphones later this 12 months and a number of other options from Google’s upcoming working system (OS) replace have surfaced because of the developer previews and the primary public beta launch. Google is reportedly engaged on a helpful new characteristic that might assist customers isolate a malicious app on their smartphone after it’s detected. If the characteristic is added to the ultimate Android 15 launch, the working system may be capable of ‘quarantine’ apps, identical to antivirus packages on Home windows.
Noticed by Android Authority on the most recent Android 15 beta, Google is engaged on the flexibility to permit a system app — like Google Play Companies or the Play Retailer — to isolate apps and apply some restrictions on them. As soon as an app has been quarantined, its capabilities shall be severely restricted, which could stop it from taking adversarial motion on the consumer’s gadget.
The code for the app quarantine characteristic exists on Android 15, however it’s but to be enabled, in response to the publication. Primarily based on the present code, the characteristic will reportedly stop a quarantined app from exhibiting notifications, conceal its home windows and cease actions, stop it from ringing the gadget and forestall different apps from interacting with some its providers.
The purported Quarantined Apps interface on Android 15
Google is reportedly engaged on a “QUARANTINE_APPS” permission that may solely be granted to apps signed by the identical certificates that Google makes use of to signal the Android working system — successfully limiting the flexibility to quarantine apps to the Play Retailer (or Google Play Companies).
It is value noting that whereas anti-malware software program for Home windows computer systems can be able to quarantining apps, Android is way more safe than Home windows and apps should not have entry to a number of components of the telephone with out first getting permission from the consumer. In consequence, quarantined apps will nonetheless be seen within the app drawer on Android 15, however tapping the greyed-out icon will inform customers that the app is not accessible, whereas displaying two buttons — OK and Unquarantine app, in response to the publication.
There is no phrase on whether or not the characteristic shall be accessible with Android 15, because it was first noticed in a developer construct of Android 14 again in 2022. If Google decides to allow the performance on Android 15, it seems doubtless that solely the Play Retailer or Google Play Companies will be capable of carry out the app quarantining capabilities. It may, nevertheless, come in useful when Google’s Play Shield malware scanner detects an app that’s exhibiting suspicious behaviour however is not a recognized risk.
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