Google has divulged more information about its forthcoming
application verifier for the Android operating system. The feature is
being rolled out over the air alongside the latest build of the OS,
Jelly Bean 4.2, on Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus devices as of yesterday.
While
it can be disabled, the app verifier feature is turned on by default
according to a new description from Google/Nexus that describes the
process as follows:
If users attempt to download and install an
unsafe app, they’ll see one of two notifications warning them the app is
either potentially dangerous – recommending they cancel installation -
or informing them the app is dangerous – blocking installation.
The
description mentions that by allowing Google to verify your
applications, the company will receive information from your phone
including URLs related to the app along with general information about
the device, including its ID, the current build of the operating system,
IP addresses and cookies.
Users can reach the new verifier, which
analyzes apps from all app stores, even those not found in Google’s
Play store, by clicking Settings > Security > Verify apps.
Users
wishing to sideload apps from third-party app stores without Google
analzying them will simply need to turn off the service.
Google announced the verifier, along with other security plans for 4.2 late last month
but it wasn’t until yesterday that one of the company’s Android
developers, Michael Morrissey, highlighted an expanded description of
the service in a post on Google+.
It still appears unclear if or how Google’s acquisition of VirusTotal earlier this fall,
feeds into Android’s new app verifier. Despite being obtained in
September, the online virus scanning company claimed it would continue
to operate independently.
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