In-built Hacker Protection May Soon Be Available for Android

Today, encountering malicious objects on the Internet, and especially objects like phishing, is not new. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in such attacks, and many unsuspecting victims have become targets of these attacks. It is of utmost importance that you check each app or website before logging in or entering your sensitive information.

But now it looks like Google may be cracking down on phishing on Android and preparing to add a new feature that detects malicious apps, according to a report from Android Police.

Android expert and journalist Mishaal Rahman found a “misleading apps” page under Settings > Security & privacy > More security and privacy in the latest Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2. According to the report, when you enable this feature, Android will monitor apps to check for “phishing and fraudulent activity.” If something is found, app data is shared with Google Play Protect to confirm the threat and alert users.

The report adds that it is not clear how Android does this, as there is no formal documentation for this feature yet. However, in the source code of Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2, there is a new system service called “Content Protection”, which can be used to check strings related to common passwords, such as “password”. In addition, according to the report, for example, a system application or an application that needs Internet permission is checked.

It remains to be seen when this feature will officially come to the public version of Android. However, it is important to follow good digital hygiene practices to prevent the installation of such apps. As a general rule, avoid downloading random APK files for sideloading from the Internet. Hackers often take advantage of users who want to download paid apps for free. Also, always verify domain names so you can distinguish between legitimate and fake websites.