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Do apps get reviewed by google?

U

upsavr

Newbie
Do android apps get reviewed by google before they are released to public? How is the public protected from malicious apps?

Thanks
 
Wait... You say someone can upload a virus to the market and sell it for 0,99 $ and infect our devices and steal our information?
 
beer-in-box said:
Wait... You say someone can upload a virus to the market and sell it for 0,99 $ and infect our devices and steal our information?
Click to expand...

Yeah, but you don't have to buy it. Just do your homework, read reviews, know what the permissions are, etc. It's the same as downloading something to your computer - would you do THAT if you hadn't checked it out?
 
I know there is one trojan for Android, but I don't know if there is a second of it.

Actually, for my computer, I have an antivirus program that I know it works well. Of course I check the software of app first...

But there are some people that don't know about the what the permissions are! There are some people who need to be saved from themselves :)

And google leaves them vulnerable? at least they could check apps randomly.
 
alostpacket said:
A wrote this guide awhile back should help people understand better I think:

http://androidforums.com/android-ap...ps-avoid-viruses-guide-those-new-android.html
Click to expand...

I read that. But I mean, yes we allow them to do some things (Permissions, I say), but what if they don't use them as it should be?
Think of an trojan-infected GPS navigation app... To use it, we have to allow it to use GPS, and most of the times, WiFi and 3G too. What if it sends to someone where we are?
Or think of a game that uses camera... And suppose you use a free version with advertisement. That means it have to use your camera(that's the game) and your internet connection(for downloading the advertisements). Wow! You are online! So what now?
Or an SMS app that steals your contacts?

Our phones have brains, we don't know if they are smart :) But they can be fooled, right? Or even the best expert on those things might be fooled.

One thing that google can do is program a really good, and working antivirus for android. This shouldn't be too hard for them. If it is hard, they should tell if the antiviruses on the market are working or not... I feel like they are just user interfaces and doing nothing.
 
No, Google definitely should not program an anti-virus app for Android. That would be HUGELY BAD PR and it would be largely pointless since there are almost no viruses out there.

Seriously, there isn't a lot to worry about. Just be careful what you download. If a game wants access to you contacts, don't install it. Use some commone sense and read up on the software you are thinking of installing.
 
alostpacket said:
No, Google definitely should not program an anti-virus app for Android. That would be HUGELY BAD PR and it would be largely pointless since there are almost no viruses out there.

Seriously, there isn't a lot to worry about. Just be careful what you download. If a game wants access to you contacts, don't install it. Use some commone sense and read up on the software you are thinking of installing.
Click to expand...

About PR, I think you are right. That would mean "Hey, there will be some viruses, and this is how we try to protect you."

I'm worried about something else. Of course I won't install a game that wants access to my contacts.
But, think of an SMS app. It would need to access to my contacts, and it will need the right to send text messages, right? Because that's why I use it. So, this looks innocent. But, suppose it sends my contacts to some number exactly when I try to send an SMS. This is bad, right? How could anyone protect himself from that? And what if it hides that it sent SMS? If it hides, no one will know and write a comment.

There is always a little risk. I don't download any apps except from the market. But it seems it's not so secure.

And I know Android is a Linux and Java based OS, but I also know that it is not impossible to get infected. Man, if 20 million people use that, 15 million have internet connection for it, 5 million use it for banking purposes (From stock monitoring to opening or closing an account via the app of their banks) and 10000 are rich. If I knew some coding, I would give it a go (We are all lucky that I don't know anything about coding :) )
 
Well I think there are reasonable precautions one can take and need not worry.

I understand what you're saying, but that kind of thing just doesnt happen all that often. Why would anyone want to SMS your contacts? It's also not easy to hide the sent SMS messages and the app would get taken down pretty quickly.

While Google doesn't do anti-virus, they do investigate malicious apps. You are also confusing virus and trojan.

The thing about your concept of an app that steals info (a trojan) is that it would get noticed so fast as to make it not worth writing. What good is a trojan if you can only get contact data on 10-50 people? What would the trojan writer even do with that info?

I don't know, I guess I just think your worry is a bit too much. (Incidentally I think most people worry too little, so maybe a bit of extra worry is a good thing). But I truly believe that with due dilligence, one can remain very safe, and with all the misinformation spread about Android, I think it's important to put some of this in perspective.
 
I know the difference between virus and trojan, I just don't know if there is an anti-trojan (Actually English word of it is what I don't know). That's why I look like I am confusing :)

You gave me the info that I needed: Google investigate malicious apps. That is a good thing. Actually, that is all what they need to do.

Like I said, I don't know much about coding, so I don't know if my concept would work or not.
But, some of us use banking apps! And stealing an account password is a good idea :)
And about what a trojan writer could do with my contacts, that's up to his social engineering skills :)

But I wish to thank you, for the infos you shared with me.
 
Are you saying that they don't not check new apps at all or just for viruses?

Do they check app for their content i.e. whether it is offensive or does not meet the content policy?

Maybe they just do spot checks?
 
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