Android Jellybean to scan apps for malware, and warn of expensive SMS scams

Last month, Naked Security uncovered evidence that Google was planning to starting scanning Android apps for malware on users’ smartphones.

Google has now confirmed that the functionality will be coming to the next version of Android (4.2, also known as Jelly Bean).

In a recent interview with Computerworld, Android’s VP of Engineering explained that in the next version of the operating system, it will be possible to scan any apps that are installed from third-party marketplaces.

Hiroshi Lockheimer told JR Raphael that the first time apps are installed from anywhere other than the official Google Play store, Android will display a message asking the user if they want the app to be checked for “harmful behavior”…

Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Bluesky, or drop him an email.