Android 7.1 ‘Panic Mode’ Protects Users From Malicious Apps

While Google continues to improve the security of its Android platform it’s still far too common for lapses to occur. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is installing apps from unverified sources. Since it’s not at all difficult to sideload an app on an Android device, this is what’s most often the cause of much grief to many Android users. In a bid to protect users from malicious apps, Google has built a “panic mode” functionality into Android 7.1.

Users don’t generally read the fine print when they’re installing an app. Most of them don’t even look at the sort of permissions the app is asking for before they decided to install it on their device.

It often happens that users are left with no way out when they’ve mistakenly installed a malicious app. They reach so far along the installation process that the app basically hijacks the screen and prevents them from exiting the install process no matter which button they press.

Google has built a security feature into Android 7.1 which will be included in all subsequent versions of the platform as well. It detects repeated presses of the back button to force the device back to the home screen. The panic detection automatically triggers when the back button is pressed four times in rapid succession.

Users can then uninstall the malicious app before it does any more damage. It’s a hidden security feature that’s definitely going to save a lot of users from a lot of grief.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Android 7.1, Google