Pixel phone and tablet owners can now use Google’s Pixel Binary Transparency to ensure their firmware matches trusted installation data. The feature comes in response to the rising frequency of hackers tampering with software on Android devices before they reach customers.
Security researchers have recently raised alarm bells over malware that can come pre-installed on millions of Android devices worldwide. Vendors offering cheaper phones, tablets, or other products might use Android-based firmware from dubious sources, allowing hackers to sneak malicious code onto factory-sealed devices. Attackers can also compromise the developers of the pre-installed apps that manufacturers often include in their products, eventually stealing users’ information or tricking them into expensive purchases.
