Google may soon remove one of Android's underused security features in its upcoming updates this year.
The tech giant is reportedly considering shutting down the Android Protected Confirmation security feature due to low usage among phone manufacturers, according to the Android Police.
The rumors started following two patches from Google engineers to the Android Open-Source Project showing that it is deprecating the hardware required for the APC.
The APC, which was first developed for Android 9, was meant to ensure that users consent to the transaction processes with Android apps.
Reports suggest that only Google's flagship Pixel phone still uses the security features while other brands employ their own protective measures for their devices.
Google, however, insists that the APC is gaining more traction in the past year. The search engine giant has yet to confirm the validity of the rumors.
Reports of the removal come after Google fixed over a hundred security issues in Android, including serious flaws and vulnerabilities that could lead to system exploitation.
Alternatives to the APC Security Feature
While the APC feature provides added protection during transactions, particularly in in-app purchases, it does not mean that all online processing is unsafe now.
Many phone manufacturers have already installed their own protective system on monetary transactions for trusted apps.
Combined together, it provide enough protection for users to not easily fall victim to hackers and threat actors looking to hijack their devices.
Google Adds, Fixes Security Protection on Android Devices
Google has also added credibility features to its Play Store platform to ensure users will not be duped by threat actors, including handing out badges to developers that can prove they follow security and privacy standards.
Additionally, the last few patches made by Google addressed many of the security issues related to the program, ensuring that these problems will not appear again anytime soon.
The upcoming Android 14 is also expected to resolve many of the security issues the APC is usually tasked with, thus completely rendering the program as less than useful.
