Google’s Mobile blog has put up a thorough response to this week’s malware skirmish, confirming that a number of apps were removed with their developers having their publishing privileges suspended.
The attack apparently targeted “known vulnerabilities” which exist in Android versions lower than 2.2.2. Here’s the site’s checklist of damage limitation:
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We removed the malicious applications from Android Market, suspended the associated developer accounts, and contacted law enforcement about the attack.
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We are remotely removing the malicious applications from affected devices. This remote application removal feature is one of many security controls the Android team can use to help protect users from malicious applications.
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We are pushing an Android Market security update to all affected devices that undoes the exploits to prevent the attacker(s) from accessing any more information from affected devices. If your device has been affected, you will receive an email from [email protected] over the next 72 hours. You will also receive a notification on your device that “Android Market Security Tool March 2011” has been installed. You may also receive notification(s) on your device that an application has been removed. You are not required to take any action from there; the update will automatically undo the exploit. Within 24 hours of the exploit being undone, you will receive a second email.
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We are adding a number of measures to help prevent additional malicious applications using similar exploits from being distributed through Android Market and are working with our partners to provide the fix for the underlying security issues.
Google also says the only data the “hackers” were able to access was the IMEI identification number of the phones and the version of Android they were running. Neither of which are much use in isolation.
HTC’s 4.3″ dual-core Android model, powered by Qualcomm’s all-new S4 processor. It’s smaller than the enormous One X, but is it as nice as its bigger brother? (SPOILER: Yes it is).
HTC is very much B-A-C-K at the top of the Android world with this, its quad-core flagship for 2012. Great camera, huge 4.7″ display and Android 4.0 running beautifully well.
Sony returns with an all-new mobile design for 2012, pairing a dual-core processor with a 720p display. It’s a lovely phone, but is it enough to end our Samsung and HTC obsession?
LG’s updated Prada phone comes with an absolutely crazy black & white theme, but is it just for fashionable suit wearers who want to make themselves look a bit more interesting?
android game creator
/ April 22, 2011Why are those sh*t hackers want’s to hack a phone? Is there any they can get into it?