Fifth of Android Apps Expose Private Data

WrongSizeGlass writes "CNET is reporting that a fifth of Android apps expose private data. The Android market threat report details the security issues uncovered. Dozens of apps were found to have the same type of access to sensitive information as known spyware does, including access to the content of e-mail and text messages, phone call information, and device location. 5% of the apps were found to have the ability to make calls, and 2% can send text messages, without the mobile user doing anything."

Comments

Exposing private data

[flaming error]

I tend to expose private data after a fifth of scotch.

Re:Exposing private data

[Pojut]

I exposed your mom's private data last night...but it was too corrupted to be worth anything.

Zing!

Re:Exposing private data

[flaming error]

I hope you're joking. She's been dead for 12 years.

Re:Exposing private data

[Pojut]

That simultaneously makes my joke even funnier and makes me an even bigger dickhead.

No offense intended :/

Re:Exposing private data

[flaming error]

No offense taken. You're not a dickhead, just a guy cracking jokes. Like me. (My mom's not dead, and she approved my comeback. She's here in the basement doing laundry now).

Re:Exposing private data

[TheLink]

That's what all those psychos claim- "Mom's doing the laundry in the basement, she's too busy to see you right now, yeah busy with the laundry...".

Ah but those android apps may soon expose your dark basement secrets...

Re:Exposing private data

[AnAdventurer]

My moms a writer, she lives in a little farm house by herself writing poetry on a half broken iMac no one will ever read with a blind dog at her side that barks at the cows in the field across the street. No one visits her.

I've got your malware right here

[Jeremy Erwin]

Which apps require the BRICK permission, and do any of those conceal their intent from the user?

Re:First Post!

[Chrisq]

Cock sucking faggots! - Sent from my Android -

It would have been funny if you has said "Sent from your Android"

Re:Notifications

[Anonymous Coward]

And you are notified when installing in red letters exactly what the application has access to.
News flash: 100% of your pc applications have access to your file system!

You need to be more sensational in this day and age. Let me give it a shot

100% of web-connected Android phones can download Child Pornography!

"AnonCWD is reporting that 100% of Android phones expose the user to child pornography. The Android web browser threat report details the security issues uncovered. Dozens of webpages were found to have the same type of access to child porngraphy as normal computers do, including access to CP films, drawings, and soundbytes."

That's how you get the pageviews!

Re:Notifications

[Pharmboy]

Not me, I want applications that can't read or write to files, OS API, video subsystem, ports or RAM. Programs that are properly designed to this are always safe. Every program that *doesn't* will always have some risk, no matter how well you code it. ;)

Sixth major app found to expose data as well

[noidentity]

I was using my Android today, and I discovered that it was exposing a huge amount of private data. Basically, it was transmitting a digital copy of all sounds that it picked up from its microphone, to some remote party. I couldn't believe this. More amazingly, it was triggered very simply: just dial a phone number and hit Talk. Sometimes it even occurred when I hit Talk just after the phone beeped. Nothing more was necessary. I can't believe they let this slip through.

Re:Notifications

[Kufat]

A joke is trying to whoosh over your head.

Cancel or allow?

Re:Notifications

[Anonymous Coward]

ha ha ha hahahahahahahaha

hahaha!!!

haha, well done.

Re:Operative words

[nilbog]

Security through inoperability.

Re:Operative words

[Pojut]

So it's just like Vista-era security? You know, the same annoying "Allow or Deny" people used to make fun of?

So you're saying your iPhone is like Vista?