Ensuring security in our digital lives is crucial, given the vast amounts of information we interact with every day. From accessing our bank details to exploring new websites or responding to messages, we need to feel protected. Android has taken many steps to shore up these areas over the years, and now it’s gearing up to enhance your sense of security with the introduction of Android Safe Browsing.
Deep within the latest beta version of Google Play Services, version 23.41.13, Nail Sadykov of theGoogle News Telegram channeldiscovered a hidden page detailing the Android Safe Browsing settings. Found underSettings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy, this new item will alert users about potential threats from malevolent websites.
Choosing to disable it prompts a warning that says you’ll still be safeguarded by “an older version of Safe Browsing.” Essential to note, this feature operates with the support of Google Play Protect and is designed to integrate with a list of supported apps provided by that feature. This possibly points to apps utilizing the SafetyNet Safe Browsing API, though confirmation is pending. These features are not yet available to the general user base, but their presence is a strong signal that Google is working on implementing them in the near future.
Source:Google News Telegram
Most Android users have encounteredChrome’s Safe Browsing feature, a security net alerting them when they might be venturing onto a hazardous site. As we covered previously, this tool operates by maintaining a local list on your device. Instead of a simple list of URLs, Chrome maintains a list of “hashes”, cryptographically generated strings originating from each unique URL. Google has instilled safeguards ensuring minor URL alterations won’t bypass the security, continuously updating these lists every half hour. In instances where a URL’s partial hash aligns with one on a list for potential threats, Chrome seeks further information from Google, executing a more detailed comparison on the device. This procedure ensures Google’s servers remain unaware of the exact page you’re visiting.
The SafetyNet Safe Browsing API gives a deeper dive into the workings of this security measure. Powered by Google Play Services, this API allows apps to discern if a particular URL has been classified by Google as a threat. Designed to conserve battery, bandwidth, and above all, user privacy, theSafetyNet Safe Browsing APIoffers the Android community a way to leverage Google’s vast threat detection network.
Users can harness this API to inspect a URL for potential risks. Depending on the app’s needs, it can be customized to highlight specific threats. The SafetyNet Safe Browsing API is not merely about protection, it’s also about ensuring optimal performance and resource usage.
As Android advances its security features with the upcoming Android Safe Browsing settings, users can look forward to a safer, more streamlined experience. As cyber threats evolve, so do our defenses, and Google is leading the way.
