Android 15, which is expected to debut on Pixel smartphones later this year, has revealed some intriguing features through developer previews and public betas. Among these features is a potential new tool aimed at helping users identify and contain malicious apps on their devices.
Feature revealed in Android 15 beta:
The latest Android 15 beta revealed a forward-looking feature that could change app security on the platform. Reported by Android Authority, this feature allows system applications such as Google Play Services or the Play Store to isolate and impose restrictions on detected applications, similar to antivirus programs on Windows.
Functionality and implementation:
The proposed functionality involves quarantining applications, significantly limiting their capabilities once identified as potential threats. Although the code for this feature exists in Android 15, it remains dormant pending activation. If implemented, quarantined apps would face restrictions such as not showing notifications, hiding their windows, stopping activities, and preventing the device from ringing.
Restricted access and potential limitations:
The envisioned “QUARANTINE_APPS” permission would be granted exclusively to apps signed by Google’s certificate, thus limiting the quarantine function to the Play Store or Google Play Services. Notably, despite the quarantine, applications would remain visible in the application drawer, although they are grayed out. Tapping these icons would notify users of their unavailability and offer restoration options.
Uncertainties surrounding implementation:
Although the feature was initially seen in a developer build of Android 14 in 2022, its fate in Android 15 remains unclear. If Google were to integrate, it is likely that only designated Google entities would exercise the authority to quarantine apps. Such a tool could prove invaluable in cases where suspicious app behavior is flagged by Google’s Play Protect malware scanner.
As Android moves closer to its official release, the potential inclusion of a feature to isolate and neutralize malicious apps highlights Google’s continued commitment to improving user security. While the details of its implementation and wide availability remain to be seen, such innovations demonstrate a proactive approach to safeguarding the Android ecosystem.