New Android Update To Fight Malware Than Previous Version

During Google instalment of the I/O, the company is expected to give developers their first look at the next major Android version. It's believed that Android O will mostly bring subtle changes, though one in particular could make your devices much more secure.


This added protection won't come in the form of a new feature. Instead, it will be the result of Google putting the breaks on a couple of things. As Bleeping Computer notes in a recent post, Android O will prevent ordinary apps from displaying several kinds of system alerts -- which has been a common tactic used by Android ransomware to lock users out of their devices.

There are at least half a dozen such alerts that are being restricted. Android currently has two broad groups for permissions: normal and dangerous. With Android O, there's a new level called "above dangerous" being added and these system alerts will be placed in that category. When a non-system app tries to pop open one of these alerts, it won't actually be able to do it.

Not without your help, at least. You'll have to tap through a few different screens to change a setting first, similar to what you would do if you wanted to allow the installation of apps from a source other than Google Play. You'll also be able to thwart any attempted pop-ups by tapping on "turn off" button next to a notification that appears.

It seems like a minor change, but it should make it much harder for ransomware pushers to trick Android users. Convincing users to change a system setting will require a bit of believable social engineering, and even then people will have to follow the steps exactly. They'll also have to be willing to expend the effort, and that isn't always a sure thing.