Google prepping improved Verify Apps feature to beef up Android security

Heads up, Android users, because your little green robot is about to get quite a bit more secure.

A new report from Computerworld  has revealed that Google is planning to roll out an update to Google Play Services in the coming weeks that will beef up Android's Verify Apps feature. Verify Apps originally debuted with Android 4.2 in 2012 as a feature that checks new apps as they're installed to ensure that they don't contain any malicious code or other nastiness. Last year, Google rolled its Verify Apps feature out to all Android devices running version 2.3 and up.

Now Google has whipped up an expanded version of Verify Apps that will continue to check on apps even after they've been installed to a user's device. Android Lead Security Engineer Adrian Ludwig explains that this will be helpful as Google continues to gain more knowledge about the threats that are out there. He also says that the updated version of Verify Apps will come in handy for tracking apps that were installed before Verify Apps came to be as well as those apps that are put onto a device without the user's knowledge.

Google has long been working to protect Android users from malicious apps, introducing features like Bouncer, which debuted in 2012 to help keep the Play Store free of software that do harm to a user's device. This updated version of Verify Apps is another step in Google's security efforts, and it's good to see the company actively working to protect its users.

As I mentioned before, the updated version of Google Play Services is expected to start rolling out in the coming weeks. It'll silently hit all devices running Android 2.3 and higher, so if you count yourself as part of that group, just sit back and revel in the fact that you and your Android will soon enjoy increased protection from the baddies of the app world.

Via ComputerWorld 

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Microsoft OneDrive launches with Dropbox-like bonus storage and new Android app

Microsoft unveiled its replacement name for SkyDrive just a few weeks ago, and the company is now ready to fully rebrand its cloud storage service to OneDrive today. If you’re an existing SkyDrive user then this won’t mean a whole lot. SkyDrive is being automatically upgraded to OneDrive, and existing apps will continue to work with the service. Microsoft will rebrand its Windows 8, Windows Vista, and Mac apps today, alongside its mobile and Xbox versions. Windows 8.1 and Office 2013 won’t be rebranded immediately, but both will continue to work with the new OneDrive service.

The real change is that OneDrive users will be able to earn additional storage in a similar way to Dropbox users. Microsoft is introducing a referral bonus of up to 5GB, which is made up of 500MB for each friend you refer to OneDrive, up to a maximum of 10 friends. OneDrive users will receive the free storage for referrals, and friends who sign up to the service will also get 500MB each. You can also earn 3GB of free storage by enabling the camera backup feature in Windows Phone or the iOS and Android apps. In total, OneDrive will offer up to 8GB of additional cloud storage on top of the 7GB free default allocation. If that’s not enough storage then Microsoft is also introducing monthly payment plans for OneDrive to boost the overall storage.

Microsoft is also updating its OneDrive Android app with the automatic camera uploads feature today, allowing Android users to take advantage of the new 3GB of free storage offer. The new app works largely the same as the iOS version, backing up photos to the OneDrive service, with an option to upload videos too. It also has a slightly redesigned UI to match the other apps across Windows and iOS. The newly designed Android app is available in the Google Play Store, alongside a refreshed onedrive.com site today.

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