A software to prevent malware on Android smartphones

"What sets our approach apart is that we are focusing solely on C code, which is what most - if not all - Android root exploits are written in," said Enck. Researchers are hoping to work with app vendors, such as Google Play, to establish a database of normal app behaviour. Most app vendors screen their products for malware, but malware programmers have developed techniques for avoiding detection - hiding the malware until users have downloaded the app and run it on their smartphones. The research team wants to take advantage of established vendor screening efforts to create a database of each app's normal behaviour. The software would take the app behaviour data and create an external database, but would not otherwise affect the screening process, researchers said.