Page 27 - Mindmail _June_2019

CLUB EVENTS

5 Study finds
over 2000
dangerous

apps on Google

Play store

A group of researchers on the Google Play store flexibility and customisable
from the University of the researchers used features that allow
Sydney and CSIRO’s neural networks. With almost anyone to build
Data61 investigated and the help of this process, an app, there have been
tested over 1 million the researchers were a number of problematic
apps on the Google Play able to identify apps apps that have slipped
store and found over with similar icons and through the cracks and
2000 malware-laden partially plagiarised text have bypassed automated
counterfeits. Sadly, some descriptions of the top vetting processes.” He
of them are extremely 10,000 most popular further added, “Our society
popular and have millions apps in the Play Store. In is increasingly reliant on
of downloads. The two- addition, the ‘multi-modal smartphone technology so
year long study reveals that embedding’ machine it’s important that we build
there’s a massive number learning process helped solutions to quickly detect
of impersonated popular the researchers throw and contain malicious
gaming apps available on up 49,608 potential apps before affecting
the Play store. There are counterfeits. a wider population of
also apps that contain smartphone users.”
risky malware. So, beware After identifying the
before downloading apps potential counterfeits According to Google the
from Play store. the researchers checked company now removes
for malware in them malicious developers
The story noted that with the help of private from Play store much
besides the impersonated API of online malware faster when compared
apps the Google Play Store analysis tool VirusTotal. to previous years. The
also includes several fake The researchers used a company says that in 2018
apps that despite being process called ‘relaxed it stopped more malicious
malware free requests threshold’ and found 2040 apps from entering the
“dangerous data access high-risk and fake apps on store than ever before.
permissions”. The study the Android Google Play Google also claims that the
also noted, “Games store. number of rejected apps
Temple Run, Free Flow submission in Play store
and Hill Climb Racing Commenting on the increased by more than Your determination and dedication serve as inspiration for us to be dedicated to
were among the most story, study co-author Dr 55 per cent last year. The our work as well. Thank you for making us do well at what we do. May you have the
commonly counterfeited.” Suranga Seneviratne from company also noted that happiest birthday of your life!
the University of Sydney the app suspension rate
To investigate these said, “While Google Play’s increased by over 66 per Srijith P.S.
applications thoroughly success is marked on its cent. Director Strategic Operations

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