While keeping an eye on user security, Google PlayStore has lined up a few new policies to keep users safe on the internet. With over 3 billion active Android devices globally, core services on the operating system like Google PlayStore need to be made more secure. With new policies that are soon to go into effect, Google aims to keep its Android users safe.
One of the policies in question involves a move to take down out of date applications available for download on Google PlayStore.
Taking down such applications from PlayStore will protect users from downloading applications below a set security standard. This standard is put in place by Google and all applications on PlayStore are expected to update to this Android API level. Failure of developers on PlayStore to update to this new level makes them run the risk of being labeled outdated. Thus expunging their apps from PlayStore by November 1, 2022. App developers have the tools needed to bring their apps up to par with this new standard at their disposal.
Another crackdown on user security by Google has seen the removal of certain apps that have unwarranted access to user information. Some of these apps taken down from Google PlayStore all contain malicious code that collects sensitive user information. The information collected includes the user’s phone number, email address, GPS location and so much more. The development of this malicious code is run by a company called Measurement System, and the code is tagged as malware by researchers.
There have been a lot of questions as to what private data apps on our devices collect, and what it is used for. Also, why do users compulsorily have to volunteer such information and who receives the data collected from our mobile devices? Are “these applications” full-fledged trackers used by ill-meaning individuals to accomplish certain evils? We look forward to more measures from Google and tech firms like it to aid the crackdown on malicious online activities.
