Android: With Android 14, Google has a new plan to make your phones secure – Times of India

Google announced Android 14‘s first Developer Preview with a focus on foldables, tablets and other large-screen devices. While there are a number of other features, one that is vital from users point of view is security. The next Android update will also enhance the system by blocking malware from abusing access permissions.
“Android 14 continues our work to improve your productivity as developers, along with enhancements to performance, privacy, security, and user customisation,” the company said.

How will Android 14 will secure smartphones
In order to enhance an Android phone’s security, Android 14 will limit permissions of apps by enforcing stricter API requirements.
Limited app data exchange: Apps will have to declare in detail how their apps plan to use certain phone features. The data exchange between the apps will be limited, and additional files downloaded by apps will be read-only.
Blocking installation of malicious apps: Another highlighted security feature in Android 14 blocking the installation of malicious apps. These apps target older API levels allowing them to easily abuse sensitive permissions.
Additionally, Android 14 will also limit the sending of “intents” (a message that is sent by one app to request any action from another app component) that do not have a specified recipient. With this restriction, malware will not be able to intercept these intents.

Safer dynamic code loading: This third security feature will limit files downloaded by an application to read-only mode. It usually happens that malicious codes are injected into additional files that are executed when the download is complete. With all these files becoming read-only, hackers won’t be able to execute malicious codes.
Android 14 will also block the installation of harmful apps that target SDK versions lower than 23 (Android 6.0). “Malware often targets older API levels to bypass security and privacy protections that have been introduced in newer Android versions,” Google said.