Google Provides Overview Of Measures Taken To Prevent Bad Apps From Reaching Users

Google first came out with its App Defense Alliance (ADA) around three years back. This was designed with the aim to prevent bad applications from reaching users’ devices. Today, the company is highlighting all work done in this regard by the ADA, providing a great overview of the year 2022 in this aspect.

Google Play says one of its main tasks to embark upon before apps get published is Malware Mitigation. The main goal of such programs is to enable Google Play Protect detection systems to communicate via direct means on every partner’s engines designed for scanning.

What the company gets is intelligence in the form of data that shows which apps are at risk while they’re getting published on the Play Store. Therefore, the goal of partners is to analyze the data and act as additional eyes before the app is live on the Google Play Store.

So many apps are scanned on a daily basis using a method based on two-way communication that’s as secure as can be. It takes place between the likes of third parties and Google as well as Zimperium, ESET, Lookout, and numerous other third parties. This year, we saw the likes of McAfee and Trend Micro joining the list as well.

Another measure of this App Defense Alliance protocol that’s widely up for grabs after a beta launch in 2022 is MASA. These are the initials reserved for Mobile App Security Assessment where developers can enlist apps for independent validation against the MASVS standard under this OWASP mobile app security project.

The mission of such a project was to highlight the industry’s standard for mobile app security. And that’s been utilized by the public and private sector firms. The goal is to create a great industry standard and practice in terms of mobile app security.

The work here is done by the ADA Authorized Labs with a feature that notes down dates, which test lab was used, and reports showing the latest test steps. On most occasions, you’ll see this appearing as separate security review badges on the app’s section for Data Safety across the Play Store. So many apps on Google undergo this and now, we’re seeing third-party apps do the same like Roblox, PayPal, and more.

On a usual basis, Google adds how developers complete the process of validation within a time of one month and it gets resolved in two separate outstanding issues which are better highlighted through a proper lab.

Last but not least, the CASA or security assessment for Cloud Apps says it’s more focused on apps that come backed by servers.

This outlines an entire framework where you’ll see low-risk apps of the Cloud being evaluated using self-assessment or scans through automated means. And those who are highlighted as being top risk could be further authorized via the likes of assessment from Authorized Labs.

It’s great to see Google taking more steps in this regard to amp up security against apps before they wreak havoc on users’ devices.


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