Android Security Bulletin Fixes Many Critical Vulnerabilities

Android Security Bulletin Fixes Many Critical Vulnerabilities

Google has started rolling out its monthly Android security update for March. IPhones are overpriced, lack 3.5-mm headphone jacks, and once forced everyone to download a U2 album because Tim Cook really likes U2. They're also generally the most secure consumer device out there, simply because Apple's autocratic view on software and hardware means that nearly everyone updates to the newest version of iOS — that is, the one that has the most up-to-date security patches — much more quickly Starting this year, Apple is also requiring all apps to run in HTTPS , the secure-browsing protocol that means not even your mobile carrier can tell what data you're submitting to a website.

Devices labeled as featuring such certification are guaranteed by Google to have authentic apps from the company which were both developed and signed by it, the Internet giant explained, suggesting how one of the goals of the initiative is minimizing the chances of consumers buying smartphones, tablets, or other Android-powered hardware with fraudulent software which could compromise their data or general privacy.

This happened to a few Motorola users recently, when the Google Play Protect in their phones disabled and attempted to remove a system app called Bluetooth Share 7.0”. Apparently, this is a valid system app but Google Play Protect marked it as dangerous and disabled it. In some cases, it even recommended to the user that the app be removed completely.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean brought some more security features to the operating system, such strengthening the Android sandbox designed to prevent malicious programs from infiltrating other parts of the OS. Yet those sandboxing capabilities are invisible to users and developers, and limit what security companies can do to protect Android users outside of Google's own solutions.

McAfee Mobile Security offers anti-virus scanning and real-time detection; safe Web surfing; Wi-Fi security; app protection (alerts regarding apps that may put personal data at risk); a call blocker and SMS filter; and anti-theft features, including the ability to take a photo of the person holding your lost or stolen device, determine the device location, lock and wipe the device remotely, and sound a remote alarm.