Security Architecture, Endpoint/Device Security, Endpoint/Device Security, Threat Management, Malware, Endpoint/Device Security, Endpoint/Device Security, Endpoint/Device Security

Android anti-malware feature boot verification will be strictly enforced in Nougat OS

A system integrity feature that prohibits Android mobile devices from booting when the presence of malware is suspected will now be strictly enforced in version 7.0 (Nougat). Unfortunately, the function is so sensitive, it also prevents perfectly legitimate boot attempts when a harmless, non-malicious data corruption surfaces during the start-up process.

Android's previous OS, Marshmallow, had an older version of boot verification program. But now, if a device has a corrupt boot image or verified partition, the phone will not boot at all or will boot only in limited capacity, explained Sami Tolvanen, Google software engineer, on the Android Developers Blog.

As a way to counter this inconvenience, Google developers have introduced additional code that cuts down on data corruption so this issue surfaces less frequency. The post refers to the technique, which allows the OS to recover from corrupted blocks of code, as “interleaving.”

Bradley Barth

As director of community content at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for SC Media online conferences and events, as well as video/multimedia projects. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

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