Google: Sharp Drop In Android Malware On Google Play

The number of malicious apps in Google Play has dropped sharply last year, says Google in a new report. For the second time the Internet giant published the Android Security annual report ( pdf ). Compared to 2014 took the risk of the installation of malicious applications by 40% in 2015.

The malicious apps are divided by Google in various categories like apps that collect data, spyware, Trojans and apps to download additional software. The percentage of apps which collects data decreased by 40%, to 0.08% of all installations.Spyware decreased by 60% to 0.02% of the installations and malicious downloaders saw a 50% decrease to 0.01% of all installations. However, the category of Trojans rose from 0.01% to 0.02%. Eventually it was less than 0.15% of all Android Devices that download malicious apps from Google Play only apps installed.

About 0.5% of the devices that was downloaded from Google Play apps as well as other resources to deal with malicious apps. In addition, Google says that it also protects users download these apps from other sources. For this, use the Verify Apps. Warnings Verify apps were improved last year, which was an increase of 50% of users decided not to install the app in question after a warning. End of 2014 Android Phones got to it first with ransomware. This category of malware was according to Google last year found only outside of Google Play.

Gmail Lets Users Email Addresses Block

A new feature in Gmail makes it now possible for users to block mail from specific email addresses. According to Sri Harsha Somanchi Google must give the new feature users more control over their inbox, for example if they are harassed by e-mail .

In case a user specific email address block the e-mail sender will be automatically placed in the spam folder. The option is now available to Gmail users and will appear next week for Android. In addition, Android users will soon have the option to unsubscribe simply from the Gmail app for newsletters.

Google Changes Name Alphabet And Splits

Google has been renamed and is split into multiple companies, as has founder and CEO Larry Page yesterday evening in a blog posting announced. Henceforth, the company is called Alphabet , including several companies fall each with its own director.

According to Page, the split was needed because of the different areas in which Google previously operated. Thus, the companies engaged in the development of self-driving cars, life extension, life sciences and research. All these companies will now fall under loose Alphabet, which will be the largest company Google. All internet-related services such as the search engine and YouTube create part of this. Page notes that the company in this way can better keep the focus. He will also be leading Alphabet, while Sundar Pichai, the new CEO of Google.