Topic
Android
Google Develops Public Android API for On-Device Content Safety Classification
Privacy & SurveillanceWhatsApp Adds Support for Multiple Passkeys on Single Account
Privacy & Surveillance
Ruthenium: Custom Chromium Build for Android Adds Russian Trusted Root CA Support
Policy & RegulationUS Federal Judge Orders Google to Simplify Installation of Third-Party App Stores on Android
A federal judge has directed Google to remove extra warnings and confirmation steps when users install competing app stores through Google Play on Android devices. The ruling stems from the ongoing antitrust litigation between Epic Games and Google, where a jury previously found that Google illegally maintained a monopoly over Android app distribution and in-app payments. Judge James Donato criticized the current multi-screen process as an intentional barrier designed to discourage ordinary users from choosing alternatives. Google must implement the changes within one week, making the installation of third-party stores as straightforward as any other Android application. The decision acknowledges that while Android has long permitted sideloading, the layered security prompts and hidden permission toggles effectively steered most users back to Google Play. Aptoide has already appeared in the US Google Play store as the first third-party marketplace to benefit from the eased process. Google argued the warnings protect users from malware, but the court rejected the notion that security should serve as a shield for market dominance.
Google Chrome Blocks Over 7 Billion Unwanted Notifications Daily on Android
Google reported that its Chrome protection systems blocked more than 7 billion unwanted notifications every day on Android during the first quarter of 2026. Websites increasingly use browser notifications to deliver phishing attempts, fraudulent payment requests, and malware. Chrome applies a multi-layer "Swiss cheese" defense model where several overlapping filters compensate for each other's weaknesses. The browser automatically revokes notification permissions from sites that have not been visited recently or that trigger repeated security warnings, and it can also cancel associated subscriptions. For particularly noisy resources, Chrome enforces a hard limit of 1,000 messages per minute and returns HTTP 429 responses to excess traffic. Google also made permission prompts less intrusive on Android, which reduced background activity and improved battery life. Users can review and manage notification permissions through Safety Hub on both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome.
Kaspersky Adds Call Filtering to Kaspersky Secure Mobility Management for Android Devices
Kaspersky has introduced call control capabilities into the expanded version of Kaspersky Secure Mobility Management. The new feature allows corporate Android devices running Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Android to check incoming call numbers against both local offline databases and global online reputation sources. Depending on company policy, the system can display warnings to employees or automatically block suspicious calls. Administrators gain the ability to define rules by call category, maintain black and white lists, and apply different policies to specific employee groups. The update targets risks from telephone fraud and social engineering attempts that aim to extract confidential corporate information or funds. It also helps reduce unwanted spam calls that disrupt staff who handle high volumes of incoming communications. Kaspersky Secure Mobility Management provides full lifecycle control over corporate mobile devices, applications, data, and security policies.
Yandex Details Alice Voice Assistant Audio Buffering and Data Handling in Android Apps
Yandex has issued a detailed technical response to an analysis of its Android applications that raised concerns over potential collection of audio, contacts, bank card data, and other sensitive information. The company acknowledged the existence of a cyclic audio buffer that retains approximately 1.5 seconds of sound before an activation phrase and 0.5 seconds after it, with some pre-command audio possibly transmitted to servers for speech recognition quality checks. Yandex clarified that the Alice assistant only listens locally for the wake word when the app is open and does not continuously record conversations. Access to contacts was explained as necessary for voice commands such as calling entries from the address book, with the full book sent on first sync and only changes thereafter, without hashing to support accurate speech processing. The firm rejected claims of reading messaging app conversations and stated that bank card details are routed directly to an isolated PCI DSS-compliant environment rather than standard application servers.
WhatsApp Developing AI Content Labeling Feature for Channel Admins to Meet EU Transparency Rules
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is rolling out a new function that allows channel administrators to mark posts containing AI-generated or AI-edited media. The feature appears in the latest Android beta and stems directly from European Union requirements for transparency around artificial intelligence content. Administrators can long-press a message after publication and select an option to add an AI content label, which then displays a visible tag informing subscribers that the material was created or modified by neural network tools. The requirement applies specifically to images, videos, and other media files, while generated text remains exempt from mandatory labeling. WABetaInfo researchers spotted the change, noting that the label may become permanent once applied and that the rollout could initially target only jurisdictions with relevant legislation. Broader availability for iOS users and global deployment remain under consideration.
Telegram Removed from App Store After Extortionist Plants AI-Modified CSAM in Archived Message
Pavel Durov stated that an extortionist edited an old public group message by inserting AI-altered child sexual abuse material, allowing the post to evade detection by active chat participants while enabling a direct report to Apple. The tactic triggered automatic removal of Telegram and experimental Telegram X from the App Store in multiple countries including Russia, Turkey, and the United States on August 4. Apple restored the applications after Telegram deleted the prohibited content and blocked the responsible account, with the entire outage lasting approximately ninety minutes. During the incident, push notifications failed for some iOS users, while macOS and Android versions remained unaffected. Durov criticized Apple for suspending the app without prior contact and warned that the same mechanism could be used against any user-generated content platform. Telegram urged Apple to apply equal scrutiny to all incoming reports rather than acting on isolated complaints that bypass normal moderation filters.
EU Forces Google to Open Android Microphone, Camera and Screen Access for Rival AI Assistants
The European Union has ordered Google to provide competing AI assistants with the same level of access to sensitive Android resources that is currently reserved for Gemini. The ruling covers eleven system functions, including voice activation, home button integration, background execution, and on-device AI model access. Rival assistants will also gain real-time environmental data streams from the microphone, camera, screen, and speakers under identical consent and notification rules applied to Google services. Additional capabilities include cross-app interaction, messaging, scheduling, device settings control, and multi-step task automation. Screen automation will allow assistants to operate apps inside a virtual window while the user performs other activities. Most changes are scheduled for Android 18 by 1 August 2027, while simultaneous activation of multiple assistants by voice keyword will arrive in Android 19 no later than 1 August 2028. Access to the most sensitive functions may require objective security certification and explicit user authorization.
Google Quietly Rolls Out Android Developer Verifier App to Curb APK Sideloading Fraud
Android users are discovering a new system application called Android Developer Verifier with the package identifier com.google.android.verifier that Google installs automatically through system updates without any separate consent prompt. The service prepares devices for upcoming restrictions on installing APK files from unknown sources by checking whether an app is registered to a verified developer who has passed identity verification and supplied legal information to Google. This verification does not guarantee an application is safe but allows Google to associate it with a specific individual or company, helping combat social-engineering scams in which fraudsters pressure victims into disabling protections and installing malicious APKs. To install software from an unverified developer, users will need to enable developer mode, confirm they are not under duress, reboot the device, wait 24 hours, and re-authenticate with PIN or biometrics. The new requirements begin on 30 September in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, with worldwide expansion planned for 2027 and later. While the app can currently be removed, it is unclear whether future updates will restore it, and advanced users retain the option to sideload via ADB, which bypasses the new checks entirely.
69% of Browsers Worldwide Vulnerable: How Chrome Sync Enables Stealth Surveillance Without Malware
Google Chrome's standard synchronization feature can be silently abused to turn any browser into a surveillance tool, requiring only brief physical access to a victim's device and the addition of an attacker's Google account. Security researchers at Certo highlighted the technique after multiple cases involving intimate partner surveillance, including one incident where a woman’s visits to a family lawyer and domestic abuse support sites were monitored in real time by her partner. Once sync is enabled, browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, autofill data, and saved passwords are automatically transmitted to the attacker’s profile, which can be viewed from any device worldwide without needing the victim’s password or installing spyware. Chrome provides no prominent warnings about new profiles or active synchronization, and alerts about logins are sent only to the account owner rather than the device owner. With Chrome holding a 69.65% global market share according to StatCounter data from June 2026, the method potentially affects millions of users on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Experts recommend regularly checking connected profiles in browser settings, using Incognito mode for sensitive activity, securing devices with strong passcodes and biometrics, and immediately removing unknown accounts while changing important passwords.
VK Sells 100% of RuStore to CEO Dmitry Pankrushev, Transferring Full Control to Management Team
VK has reached an agreement to sell its entire stake in the Russian Android app store RuStore to the company's own general director, Dmitry Pankrushev. The transaction moves RuStore out of direct corporate control by VK and places it under the leadership of the team that has been managing its day-to-day operations. No financial details, including the purchase price or payment structure, have been disclosed. VK described RuStore as Russia's single point of access to essential Android services and as a key platform supporting local application developers. After the deal closes, the existing team has committed to continuing regular updates, expanding features, and maintaining stable service for users. On the surface, end-users should notice no immediate changes in availability or functionality, yet the shift represents a significant structural change for one of Russia's most important alternative app marketplaces.
Google to Allow Competing Android App Stores Directly Inside Play Store After Epic Games Court Ruling
Google is preparing to open its official Google Play store to rival Android app marketplaces starting July 22, following a court order issued in the long-running antitrust lawsuit with Epic Games. The ruling stems from the 2020 Fortnite dispute over Google’s 30% commission and direct in-app purchases that bypassed the platform’s billing system. A federal judge determined that Google had unlawfully prevented device makers from promoting or pre-installing alternative app stores, thereby reinforcing Google Play’s monopoly position. As a result, approved third-party stores will now be distributed directly through Google Play, receive default access to its app catalog, and be subject to an annual $5,000 verification fee. Developers retain the right to block distribution of their apps on specific stores, while participating marketplaces must meet strict security, copyright, and update obligations or risk removal if suspicious installations exceed 1%. Although the changes are expected to apply primarily in the United States, the decision marks a fundamental shift in how Google must accommodate competitors within its own ecosystem.
Google Enhances Android Backup Controls in Play Services Update, Adds Document Sync to Google Drive Amid Storage Limit Cut
Google is updating its Android backup system through Google Play Services version 26.25, introducing separate toggles for messaging backups and the ability to automatically save documents to the cloud. Users can now disable SMS, MMS, and RCS backups independently, though RCS remains nested under the MMS category for less visibility. The new document backup feature supports formats including DOC, PPT, XLS, and PDF, storing copies in a device-named folder on Google Drive without automatic synchronization to the original files. These changes coincide with Google's reduction of free storage from 15 GB to 5 GB, where Android backups now count against the quota, potentially turning small 40 MB backups into much larger archives. The update provides more granular control over what gets backed up, including call history and system settings, accessible via Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data. While the feature can help preserve important files, it risks quickly exhausting limited free storage if documents are included.