'Bouncer' To Secure Your Android Devices From Malware

With over 250% increase in device activations last year, Android has been a growing market for both device manufacturers and application developers. Being said so, the semi-open platform has also been hit by several malware applications. And this time around, Google has found a way to reduce the possibility of a malicious software being uploaded to the Android Market and the risk of users being affected by it.

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Though already in use for several months now, Google#-Link-Snipped-# a new service, named 'Bouncer', which will keep a check on malwares being uploaded to the Android Market. 'Bouncer' will automatically be scanning the Android Market by analysing new apps, apps already in the Market and even developer accounts for malwares and other such applications.

How it works? After an application is submitted, 'Bouncer' starts scanning the app for possible misbehaviour and even compares the new app with other applications for detecting a possibility of red flag. Google also runs the applications on their Cloud infrastructure for simulating the app and look for malware and even analyse new developer accounts to keep offenders at bay.

As the service has been in use for quite a while, in the second half of 2011 the Android Market has seen a 40% decrease in malware downloads compared to the first half of the year. This is a good news for both Google and the users who give security more priority. It is not possible to completely eliminate malware but Google's systems are improving to make the system more secure than ever.

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