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 …
