Mar 07
Last week we caught news of the removal of some 21 apps from the Android Market over malware concerns. That was apparently just the tip of the malicious iceberg. According to more recent numbers, the app total is closer to 60–apps that were downloaded by somewhere in the neighborhood of 200,000 users.
The apps in question took advantage of a known vulnerability to collect data from the user and install malicious code on the device. Google adds, somewhat reassuringly, that phones with Android 2.2.2 or higher weren’t affected (yet another reminder of why fragmentation is so bad).
After the apps were discovered, the company suspended developer accounts and contacted the authorities. Google will also be issuing a security update and flipping the kill switch, to remotely remove the software from affected devices. No word on when any of this takes effect.
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