Among its efforts to combat malicious Android apps that keep on infiltrating the Play app store, Google had established App Defense Alliance in 2019, which has recently joined Joint Development Foundation, or JDF, an effort aimed at helping organizations working on technical specifications, standards, and related efforts under the Linux Foundation.

In reality, the App Defense Alliance has surpassed its original focus on Android malware detection to now include malware mitigation, mobile security assessments, also known as MASA, and cloud app security assessment, also known as CASA. Indeed, though some of its founding members were mobile security companies - such as ESET, Lookout, and Zimperium, the group has, over the years, taken in new members: Trend Micro and McAfee, to name a few.

In effect, ADA joins today a independent foundation move clearly intended to make the appeal more inclusive, so opening up access for Facebook's parent company, Meta, and also Microsoft to the ADA steering committee, each now joining on. And what's that supposed to improve: "app security," say the same people issuing this joint statement today-through further "collaborative implementation of industry standards.".

But more importantly, best-practices in security cut across all platforms, which is why a move to a more neutral home makes sense, since the ADA has slowly transitioned away from its original guise as an Android-specific security initiative.

The move to the Joint Development Foundation reflects our commitment to open collaboration and innovation in the app security space," said Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, in his statement. "We are excited to bring technology leaders together with an open ecosystem of cross-platform requirements to unlock new dimensions of performance and security for the benefit of our community.".