“Google Takes Strides Towards Safer Android Devices with Latest API Enhancements”

Google Enhances Android Security with New APIs

At Google‘s annual developer conference, the tech giant announced a series of new APIs aimed at improving Android security. The improvements include features for online browsing, sign-ins, and malware protection. One of the new APIs is the Safe Browsing real-time API which will warn users about fast-emerging malicious sites, some of which only exist for less than ten minutes to avoid block-lists. This new real-time detection will enable devices to do real-time blocklist checks for low reputation sites, blocking an additional 25% of phishing attempts every month in Chrome and Android.

Passkey Sign-Ins and Credential Manager Jetpack API

To provide Android users with a safer and improved sign-in process, Google has introduced support for passkey log-ins to all major platforms. Passkeys are cryptographic private keys corresponding with public keys in Google‘s possession, thus considered the evolution of two-factor authentication, thereby making the sign-in process simpler by skipping 2FA. To ensure that developers can incorporate passkeys in their applications, Google has also rolled out the credential manager jetpack API that supports multiple sign-in methods on the same interface.

Improved Malware Protections and App Permissions

Developers can limit accessibility services from interacting with their applications with this new API, ensuring that only Google Play Protect-validated applications can access their user’s data. The newest Android release prevents applications targeting an SDK level lower than 23 from being installed, improving malware protections. Malicious apps often circumvent security and privacy protections by targeting older SDK levels. The new Android release also provides modified photo/video permissions so that users can control easily which media particular applications can interact with. Additionally, a new API has been introduced to enable applications to recognize screenshots without having to access the user’s photos.

Conclusion

Overall, Google‘s new security enhancements underline the company’s commitment to provide users with a safer and more secure online experience. These API updates come against the backdrop of mounting concerns over online security, including increased phishing attacks, malware incursions, and unwanted application installations. Google is urging businesses and developers to adopt the newly improved security APIs in Android 14 to keep users safe while browsing, signing in, and accessing their devices.