Enhancing scam protection for Android
Protecting users from themselves by blocking malicious apps
Google recently announced that it will roll out a pilot in Singapore to help keep Android users safe from scammers in the coming weeks. The new security feature blocks the side-loading of apps that ask for certain sensitive permissions, such as the ability to read SMS, and accessibility. These permissions are often abused by malicious apps to intercept one-time passwords via SMS or notifications, or to view the on-screen content of an Android phone.
This is a more targeted, and less heavy-handed approach than that adopted by Singapore banks last year, which restricted users from banking services if side-loaded apps were detected on their devices. Of course, there’s always more that could be done. I remember my bank preemptively cancelling credit card, and replacing it with a new one despite the lack of any fraudulent transactions — simply because it believes the credit card number has been compromised. If only banks are just as proactive at monitoring suspicious bank transfers.
While the Singapore government is working on making banks and telcos accountable for some types of fraud, the malware scams targeted by this new Android security feature, aren’t covered. And you can bet that criminals will find new ways to get around the latest security measures. At the end of the day, it’s important to educate users. It may be tricky keeping up with the gimmicks employed by scammers, but they all prey on our greed and desires. So knowing how they work is half the battle.
Our latest reviews include a mid-range Oppo smartphone that’s great at taking portrait shots, a premium compact keyboard from Keychron, and a decent, and affordable pair of true wireless earbuds from Creative.
Oppo’s latest Reno11 Pro 5G is a mid-range phone that excels at taking portrait shots. While its triple camera system generally performs well, its portrait mode does a great job of making the subject look good, albeit with some post-processing. Performance-wise, this smartphone exhibits some lag at times, and battery life could be better. It’s also more expensive than some of the competition.
The Keychron Q2 Max is a premium mechanical keyboard that uses the compact 65% layout. It’s solidly built (weighs around 1.5kg), while the included Gateron Jupiter Reds switches offered a satisfying thock during typing. It’s a great choice for those looking for a well-made, and compact keyboard.
For its S$99 price, the Creative Zen Air Plus offers good sound, and decent noise cancellation. Its LE Audio feature still doesn’t play nice with the app, and these earbuds lack some features (Bluetooth Multipoint, and in-ear detection) offered by its competitors. But if you don't mind missing out on these features, the Zen Air Plus will not disappoint with its audio quality.