Android Apps expose private data

[Apolva]

About 20 percent of the 48,000 apps in the Android marketplace allow a third-party application access to sensitive or private information, according to a report released on Tuesday.

And some of the apps were found to have the ability to do things like make calls and send text messages without requiring interaction from the mobile user. For instance, 5 percent of the apps can place calls to any number and 2 percent can allow an app to send unknown SMS messages to premium numbers that incur expensive charges, security firm SMobile Systems concluded in its Android market threat report.

..
"There are known spyware apps that are on the market," Hoffman said. "It's a growing problem."
A Google spokesman dismissed those claims.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20008518-245.html

Thoughts/views? Are there not some built in permission settings for apps?

[Recursion]

This is why there are permissions shown to the user before they hit download... lolll

[GommeInc]

It's a concern shown with any smartphone, be it iPhone, Android and whatever the other ones are :P As Recursion said, you get told of what the app has access to, and no doubt the iPhone will too.

[Apolva]

It's a concern shown with any smartphone, be it iPhone, Android and whatever the other ones are :P As Recursion said, you get told of what the app has access to, and no doubt the iPhone will too.


Right, but don't Apple check and approve them beforehand?

[xxMATTGxx]

Right, but don't Apple check and approve them beforehand?

So you want Google to check every App and reject applications for whatever reason like Apple do?

[Apolva]

I guess this is just down to user stupidity then?

[GommeInc]

Right, but don't Apple check and approve them beforehand?
There's always a way. iPhone Apps have been known to have vulnerabilities. As with everything in the real world, you have to take caution with the Android App Market, just like computer software.

[HotelUser]

So you want Google to check every App and reject applications for whatever reason like Apple do?

I think Google already does that, they're just not so picky about it so we don't hear about it :P

[xxMATTGxx]

I think Google already does that, they're just not so picky about it so we don't hear about it :P

They aren't picky as there is a lot of hm, I can't say the word but yeah. :P

[GoldenMerc]

o deaaa :( want my g1 back tho !

[kk.]

They aren't picky as there is a lot of hm, I can't say the word but yeah. :P

Yeh, comparing the 48000 to the 230000

[JACKTARD]

I don't download android apps that need access to sms and location without good reason. What other things could expose private info?

[MrPinkPanther]

I'm happy for Apple to check applications because it means you can download applications knowing that it is safe for sure. All of this about it being too closed is purely generated by the media in my opinion, in all but a few cases Apple have had valid reasons for rejecting applications.

[xxMATTGxx]

I'm happy for Apple to check applications because it means you can download applications knowing that it is safe for sure. All of this about it being too closed is purely generated by the media in my opinion, in all but a few cases Apple have had valid reasons for rejecting applications.

Don't start being all pro Apple due to this so called Android Applications exposing private data. If users read what the application was and what permissions it would give to the application before downloading, then surely that is the users fault.

[Recursion]

I'm happy for Apple to check applications because it means you can download applications knowing that it is safe for sure. All of this about it being too closed is purely generated by the media in my opinion, in all but a few cases Apple have had valid reasons for rejecting applications.

Nonono, the difference here is, it is the user's idiocy when they download an app, the Market clearly states what the App is going to access on your phone and what actions it is carrying out, you can then either Install or Cancel. Also, Apps on iPhone do send personal information out without people knowing, including Name, Facebook URL, DOB, Email, iPhone UUID, Mobile number and all sorts for "advertising" and "piracy tracking/statistics data".