From NetEase Technology: Due to the continuous increase in app stores and Google's open development policy on Android, Android malware has been growing overall and making money. However, Google stated that the number of malware in the Android Market decreased by 40% in 2011.
According to U.S. media reports, Google recently launched a new service called Bouncer. This service aims to protect Android users from malicious software while providing developers with more freedom compared to Apple's app review policies. For the Android Market online app store, Google has always faced a dilemma: its non-review policy means anyone can write almost any application for this platform, including malware. The Bouncer service can scan apps uploaded to the Android Market and remove unwanted software.
Google announced on its blog that it would launch this service for the first time on Thursday local time. It is currently unclear how long it will take to start and run. Here’s how it works: Developers upload applications to the Android Market as usual, but Google will scan them in the background based on known malware, spyware, or Trojan characteristics. This service will also simulate the behavior of the uploaded applications on Google's internal servers, detecting whether they collect and publish personal information without the user's knowledge.
Related thematic articles: Google launches Android Market virus scanning service.