Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
- Google is piloting a new way to tackle financial fraud by blocking the sideloading of apps that use frequently abused permissions.
- Many financial fraud apps have exploited permissions related to SMS, notifications, and accessibility.
- If an app with these permissions is being installed from external sources, Google Play Protect will block its installation.
Android is much loved for being an open platform. Users can install apps from sources outside the Google Play Store, but that coin has two sides. The freedom to install any app you like is weighed down by the fact that regular users often fall victim to fraud after downloading shady apps from the internet. The problem is undoubtedly present, so Google is now testing a new program that helps protect users against financial fraud apps.
Through Google Play Protect, Google is piloting enhanced fraud protection on Android devices that ship with Google Play Services. This program is being launched in Singapore in the coming weeks, and we presume a broader rollout will happen based on the pilot’s success.