Posted by Android Guy in News | 0 comments
Android Users Hit with Malicious Data Theft App
These days people do not seem to pay attention to what their apps are doing in background. There is a reason why people should pay extra attention to the type of apps they install on their handheld devices these days. Unfortunately for a large group of Android users, this is going to be a lesson learned the hard way. An app distributed through Android Market has gathered and sent user information to China. The app was just a simple wallpaper customizer, but it could have been downloaded by millions of people (according to VentureBeat):
anywhere from 1.1 million to 4.6 million times. The exact number isn’t known because the Android Market doesn’t offer precise data
The app seems to have gathered all kinds of information, including browsing history, passwords, and other sensitive data. That is going to be a big headache for Android users and could justify Apple’s stance on apps (though Apple’s system is not perfect either).
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to address this. There are plenty of malicious developers around these days. Besides, hackers have plenty of ways to trick mobile users:
Even good apps can be modified to turn bad after a lot of people download it. Users absolutely have to pay attention to what they download. And developers have to be responsible about the data that they collect and how they use it,
said Kevin MaHaffey, chief technology officer at Lookout. Google will have to address this issue sooner rather than later. While Apple seems too controlling with iPhone, Google has let the Android Market to become the wild west. Companies such as Google and Facebook may not be too concerned about their users’ privacy, but people’s sensitive information need to be protected at all times. Google and Apple won’t be stopping all these apps, which is why mobile phone owners need to be more vigilant and do their research before downloading apps from individuals and businesses they don’t know.
