X

Play Store on Android 15 to get AI-powered threat detection

Featured image for Play Store on Android 15 to get AI-powered threat detection

Google Play Store for Android 15 will benefit from Generative Artificial Intelligence. The Android OS developer has indicated that the app marketplace and its backend will get AI-powered fortifications and threat mitigation systems.

Android 15 will have AI-powered threat mitigations

The Google Play Store offers millions of apps for the Android Operating System. Needless to say, it offers a huge potential attack surface for malicious actors.

Google does have several checkpoints and scanners to spot and halt potential troublemakers before they cause any major damage. Moving forward, AI will join the ranks to try and shield Android users from security threats.

Interestingly, it is not just the Play Store, but also the Android OS that will gain AI-powered security systems. Specifically speaking, the upcoming Android 15 OS would have AI that will actively look for weak spots or vulnerabilities.

It appears Google is offering on-device threat mitigation for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and other devices running Android 15. At this year’s Google I/O, the search giant has indicated that Android 15 will have AI-based vulnerability detection. Android 15 will reportedly limit app permissions, notify users of unsafe cellular connections, and prevent social engineering attacks. These proactive steps should help bolster overall security and thwart potential attacks.

Will AI protection for Android 15 OS be available for the Play Store as well?

Google has already upgraded “Google Play Protect”. Google Play Services extends real-time scanning to Android devices. This can help address malware right at the code level.

Google AI initiatives are actively joining the existing defense techniques. Hence, Play Store will be able to better analyze apps’ use of sensitive permissions and suspicious behaviors.

If Google’s AI systems detect any suspicious pattern, it will report the same to Google for further investigation. Called “Live Threat Detection”, Google’s Play Store-specific AI systems will look out for frauds and scams.

Android 15 will seek to limit app permissions to limit potential attack vectors. The OS will notify users of potentially unsafe cellular connections. Google is reportedly training its AI to spot and prevent social engineering attacks. While Apple recently opened its App Store to sideloading in some regions, Google has never blocked the practice in Android. Hence, it will be interesting to see how the AI sentinels in Android 15 deal with sideloaded apps that have not been sourced from the Play Store.