Geek News: Remote Removal of Android Apps
Internet behemoth, Google, remotely deleted two apps, over-the-air, from Android phones yesterday it’s been revealed.
Announced on the mobile OS’ dev blog, Android Security Lead, Rich Cannings, detailed the reason behind the removal of these two apps, claiming that “these applications intentionally misrepresented their purpose in order to encourage user downloads.”
While the intent of these apps “were not malicious”, Cannings continued that “they did not have permission to access private data – or system resources beyond permission.INTERNET”. The latter, an in-built Android command string, enabling applications to open network sockets to communication over the Internet.
It was implied that because the apps were “practically useless”, that the majority of those who downloaded them, would have deleted them soon after.
The programmer responsible for the creation of the two apps in question, apparently devised for “research purposes”, voluntarily removed them from the Android Market, and not long after, Google exercised their right under their Terms of Service, to systematically delete the remaining copies of these apps, directly off of users’ phones.
Cannings clarified in his post, that “the remote application removal feature is one of many security controls Android possesses to help protect users from malicious applications. In case of an emergency, a dangerous application could be removed from active circulation in a rapid and scalable manner to prevent further exposure to users”
While remote access isn’t unheard of, it certainly allows for arguments of a “Big Brother” state and the freedom of creativity being censored.
Are you an Android user? Did you download these apps, and find them miraculously vanished from your phone? Leave a comment and tell us your thoughts.
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