Google’s latest mobile operating system is here and is currently rolling out to Pixel phones. Compared to previous updates, Android 17 offers few new features and seems to focus on minor improvements, primarily aimed at app multitasking and a better user experience.
However, Google has also been working on Android’s security. These optimisations have received less promotion, but they are the ones that’ll save you in a crisis.
These four are particularly important.
1. Strict memory limits for apps
Some apps can take up a large amount of RAM if they’re poorly optimised. This can cause your phone to slow down. Memory leaks can also occur if apps are unable to free up memory that’s no longer needed.
Although Android already compresses unused apps to conserve memory, that isn’t always enough. Android 17 introduces a new system that forces every app to adhere to a set upper limit on RAM usage. If an app exceeds this limit, it can be terminated, as Android Authority explains.
The change is not intended to penalise hardware-hungry applications per se. Instead, it’s designed to encourage developers to optimise their apps more effectively and ensure they don’t waste unnecessary resources.
At first glance, this doesn’t have as much to do with security as with improved performance. However, Trojans and other malware in particular often run in the background and consume huge amounts of RAM, which is a fairly reliable sign of an acute threat.
2. Apps can no longer scan connected devices
People may not be aware of this but, until now, Android apps could search for other devices (such as smart TVs, printers, security cameras and speakers) on any connected Wi-Fi network without requiring permission. This made sense, as connected devices can be relevant to the app’s functionality. However, it also posed a major security risk.
Android 17 changes this, meaning that permission must be actively granted. By default, apps are therefore no longer allowed to retrieve information about the local network. App developers can, however, ensure that Android itself is permitted to retrieve information about nearby devices at the system level.
Chris Martin / Foundy
3. Better malware protection
For a long time, one of the biggest vulnerabilities of Android apps was that they could dynamically load code after installation. This meant that apps could appear secure at first glance, but subsequently implement malicious software.
In the Google Play guidelines, the company stated that reloading code from external sources is not permitted. However, this alone didn’t prevent the system from exploitation. Now, all code packages that are loaded subsequently must be securely write-protected so that no further changes can be made. If this isn’t the case, the package will simply not be accepted by Android 17.
4. Greater online security
Last but not least, browsing the internet on an Android device is set to become more secure. Android 17 has a security measure called ‘Certificate Transparency’, which is now enabled by default for all encrypted connections.
According to Android Authority, this ensures that websites accessible via HTTPS are transmitted using independently audited and certified protocols. Put simply, this better protects users from communicating with fake or tampered websites without them realising it.
Android 16 already had this security feature, but only as an opt-in. Android 17 has it enabled by default.
You can see all the phones expected to get Android 17. But if your phone is among them, you might discover that Android 17 isn’t all smooth sailing yet.