1.19 Ensure 'Improve harmful app detection' is set to Enabled

Warning! Audit Deprecated

This audit has been deprecated and will be removed in a future update.

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Information

Improve detection of harmful apps.

Rationale:

Enabling Improve harmful app detection setting sends anonymous information to
Google about apps that were not installed from Google Play. This is especially true if you
choose to install apps from "Unknown sources" outside of the Google Play Store. This
information helps Google better protect everyone from harmful apps.

NOTE: Nessus has not performed this check. Please review the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Follow the below steps to enable Improve harmful app detection:

1. Tap Settings Gear Icon.
2. Tap Google.
3. Scroll to the Services section.
4. Tap Security.
5. Scroll to the Security Status section.
6. Tap Google Play Protect.
7. Toggle Improve harmful app detection setting to On position.

Impact:

User data needs to be sent to Google that may incur data charges based on your carrier.
Also, this user data might contain, but not restricted to, log information, URLs related to the
app, device ID, your Android version, and IP address.

Default Value:

By default, Improve harmful app detection setting is disabled.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/2076