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Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

theregister.co.uk

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Re: Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

#3

Post by drivebyacct »

This is possible with the iOS as well. Not really sure why this app was targeted. Any app with permission.INTERNET could do what that application was doing.

Saying it hinges on a kernel exploit is rather silly. If a kernel exploit were found for iOS or Android, the effect and response would be the same. Some developer would try to ship it do to "malicious thing" and Goog/Apple would revoke it to spare their users any pain or harm.

This is a really moot issue when you realize that Android users can always install whatever APK they want, so it's not significant when Google removes apps from the Market for ToS violations (even then, it's incredibly rare), etc.

Re: Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

#4

Post by dinedal »

TheSOB88 wrote: post #2

Apple could do that too, if they felt like it. Edit: Except with iPods.

They haven't had to because they stop this stuff before it happens.

The cost of keeping the Apple App Store clean of malicious software is placed on the developers who are forced to wait for approval. The cost of keeping the Android App Market clean is placed on the users who will have to deal with the malicious apps that haven't been pulled yet.

Freedom isn't free it seems.

Does anyone know if Google can pull apps that haven't been installed by means of the Market?

Re: Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

#5

Post by ErrantX »

Both mechanisms operate over a persistent TCP/SSL/XMPP connection that Google maintains between its servers and Android handsets via a service called GTalkService.

What? That's rather naughty if it is true (the article doesn't give any more details than this).

Does this mean that for non-technical users you cannot turn off a Google connection?

Re: Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

#6

Post by krosaen »

dinedal wrote: post #4
TheSOB88 wrote: post #2

Apple could do that too, if they felt like it. Edit: Except with iPods.

They haven't had to because they stop this stuff before it happens. The cost of keeping the Apple App Store clean of malicious software is placed on the developers who are forced to wait for approval. The cost of keeping the Android App Market clean is placed on the users who will have to deal with the malicious apps that haven't been pulled yet. Freedom isn't free it seems. Does anyone know if Google can pull apps t…

i'm pretty sure it's only apps installed via the market.

Re: Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

#8

Post by yanw »

gomer wrote: post #7

I know with my Black Berry on Verizon my screen is littered with new Apps that I never installed (Bing, NFL,Skype, and more). It is pretty annoying.

It's no the same thing, those apps come pre-bundled when you purchased your blackberry, the Google mechanism is a safeguard for when a malicious app slips through, and it only applies to apps downloaded from the market.

Re: Google can kill or install apps on citizen Androids

#10

Post by biafra »

dinedal wrote: post #4
TheSOB88 wrote: post #2

Apple could do that too, if they felt like it. Edit: Except with iPods.

They haven't had to because they stop this stuff before it happens. The cost of keeping the Apple App Store clean of malicious software is placed on the developers who are forced to wait for approval. The cost of keeping the Android App Market clean is placed on the users who will have to deal with the malicious apps that haven't been pulled yet. Freedom isn't free it seems. Does anyone know if Google can pull apps t…

I'm quite sure that its impossible for Apple to find all malicious software via their review process.
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