Google Android hit by rogue applications

[Hutzpa]

More than 50 applications available via Android Marketplace have been found to contain a virus.
The malicious apps were copies of existing applications, such as games, that had been repackaged to include the virus code.

Although Google are saying all the apps found to be malicious have been removed, my question is what guarantee that Google
can provide to ensure something like this never happened again in the near future.

This virus was found to activate after the application have been downloaded, once the booby-trapped application is installed and run,
the virus lurking within will send sensitive data such as unique ID number to a remote server.

Android is an open source environment that allows for anyone who is interested to modify the source code and they believe that
the application will be more useful and error-free over the long run. The problem is just as you have malicious applications that can
manipulate these programs is the same way you have programmers with bad intention who can manipulate these source codes to
the detriment of consumers who will unknowingly download and installed these applications.

You will find the list of these 50 rogue apps here;

http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/03/01/the-mother-of-all-android-malware-has-arrived-stolen-apps-released-to-the-market-that-root-your-phone-steal-your-data-and-open-backdoor/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12633923


http://www.pcworld.com/article/202160/rogue_android_apps_secretly_grab_user_data.html

[PeaceNikki]

1. "Took less than 5 minutes from first contact to pull!"

So there's that.

[trumad]

2. I work for a Network Security company...

and our 2011 number one initiative is Mobile Security.

It's pretty serious shit.

[DCKit]

3. Is Google still allowing repackaging? Why did they, in the first place?

They were begging for this to happen.

[Hutzpa]

4. Google needs to develop

a fast response unit as this might be the beginning of things to come.

The corporate masters are restless and are looking for loop holes.