After 7 years, Google will stop paying researchers to find vulnerabilities in popular Android apps
www.androidpolice.com
Google is shutting down its Google Play Security Reward Program later this month

Summary

  • Major tech giants like Google pay researchers for finding vulnerabilities in their products.

  • Google is shutting down the Google Play Security Reward Program on August 31, 2024.

  • It will review all submitted reports before the program ends, though payouts can take a few weeks.

  • limerod@reddthat.comOPMEnglish
    271·
    3 months ago

    Google is shutting down the program due to its improved security measures

    In its email, Google states that it is closing down the program because of the “overall increase in the Android OS security posture and feature hardening efforts.” This has led to researchers submitting fewer vulnerabilities than before.

    In its last annual report, Google claims to have stopped 2.28 million privacy-violating apps and banned 333,000 malicious developer accounts. Last year, it also announced major improvements to Google Play Protect, including real-time scanning for Android malware. More recently, it bolstered the Play Integrity API with in-app signals to prevent fraudulent activities.

    These improvements are evidently working and have led to fewer vulnerabilities being discovered in Android apps and the ecosystem.

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      282·
      3 months ago

      Seems kind of weird to me that they want to shut down a program because it worked too well. “we don’t want to pay people to find problems because we don’t have to pay them as much lately”

    • NarrativeBear@lemmy.worldEnglish
      182·
      3 months ago

      On another note all new homes and buildings no longer need fire alarms or sprinklers as deaths related to fire have gone down.

      Buildings are not burning down as much as they once did. So no need to spend money and time on fire safety and protection equipment. /s