Scareware: Fake Minecraft apps Scare Hundreds of Thousands on Google Play

ESET has discovered over 30 scareware applications available for download from the Google Play store. The malicious applications, which pretended to be cheats for the popular Minecraft game, have been installed by more than 600.000 Android users.It’s not easy to slip a malicious application into Google’s official Play Store these days. Google’s automated application scanner, Bouncer, helps in reducing the number of malware on the official app store. Yet, some baddies do occasionally get by, as demonstrated by our recent discovery of over 30 scareware applications that have been uploaded to the Play store in the course of the last 9 months

Read on, source: Scareware: Fake Minecraft apps Scare Hundreds of Thousands on Google Play

Android M makes another attempt at automated device backups

We’ve got the Android M preview installed on some devices already, and we’re beginning to dig down past the major improvements that Google announced on stage earlier today. One of these is an improvement to Android’s backup system—if you choose to back up your device with a Google account, apps that target Android M and newer will have all of their data and settings backed up by default. That data can then be downloaded and restored to your phone if you get a new one or need to wipe it for some reason.

Read on, source: Android M makes another attempt at automated device backups | Ars Technica

Google developing “Brillo” Internet of Things OS based on Android

The Information is back with more Google news before I/O. The outlet claims that Google is developing another operating system, this time for low-power “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices. The OS is codenamed “Brillo,” and the publication claims Google “is likely to release the software under the Android brand, as the group developing the software is linked to the company’s Android unit.” We’re going to take that to mean “it’s based on Android.”The report says Brillo will be aimed at ultra low-power devices with as little as 64 or 32MB of RAM. With the abundance of smart home technology like connected light bulbs, door locks, sensors, and whatever other crazy connected objects the IoT crowd dreams up on Kickstarter, Google clearly sees an opportunity.

Read on, source: Google developing “Brillo” Internet of Things OS based on Android | Ars Technica

Plans for Google Summer of Code 2015

Google Summer of Code is getting ready to kick off their 11th iteration of the program. It offers a unique opportunity for students to get involved in open source, with the original slogan of the program being: “Flip bits, not burgers.” All of the mentoring organizations have been announced, the student proposals are in, and the selected projects were just announced this week.

Read on, source: Plans for Google Summer of Code 2015 | Opensource.com