What does Google’s Android security report tell us? 

In March, Android reached its 10 year anniversary. That same month (just a few days ago in fact) Google released its annual Android Security and Privacy Year In Review report for 2018. The 31-page report is packed with insight, data and figures relating to Android and its growth over the last 12 months – so what can we learn from it as mobile app development agency business owners?

1. The operating system has come a LONG way

In the introduction to its report, Google acknowledges the 10 year milestone of Android with a point worth immediately noting; the operating system has progressed massively in that timeframe. The original OS was called simply, Android 1.0. It allowed multi-tasking and content sharing between apps plus pull-down notifications. Not hugely technical but still advanced for its time and functional for early smartphone users. Fast forward to today and the system has come on in leaps and bounds, offering both Android users and Android app development agencies a whole new world of possibilities. Today’s OS is packed with features and capability including cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

2. 84% more devices received a security update in Q4

Between October-December of 2018, 84% more devices received a security update than the same period of the previous year. Driven by the Android Security Rewards Program – which works with researchers around the world to improve security and made more than $3 million in payments – more devices are being made more secure. As part of its security efforts, Google says it worked with 300,000 Android app developers to remediate 1 million apps to pass Google Play’s safety and security requirements.

3. Google Play Protect continued to grow

After coming into force in 2017, Google Play Protect now analyses and reviews around half a million apps each day. This stops apps that could be harmful to users and Android devices from reaching Google Play. As part of this program, a number of developments were rolled out last year to keep app users safe including making it the default security option for all new Android devices. It will also alert users if they try and install an app outside of Google Play and will give a warning of apps are deemed to be harmful before they’re launched on the device. Apps that violate Google Play privacy or content rules are also now automatically disabled by Google Platy Protect.

4. The number of pre-installed Potentially Harmful Apps (PHAs) increased

Google says the number of PHAs it saw in 2018 increased – possibly due to click fraud apps now being included in this category. 0.11% of apps downloaded by users were PHAs in 2018, but installed outside of Google Play. Users only installing apps from Google Play were found to be 8 times less likely to have PHAs on their devices.