Comments on: [Update] Another App Stealing Data?

By: Arden Kattner (helicopter game)

Arden Kattner (helicopter game) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:17:51 +0000

I really want to get my chubby paws on this! I can already feel my GPA going down until I crack the game!

By: jimmy j

jimmy j — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:54:20 +0000

People its a wallpaper app. download pics then choose one to set as wallpaper. then change pic when bored. that simple. And thats all thats required. Any reporting of anything to anywhere is totally unnecessary and is totally suspicious. voicemail phone number AND PASSWORD if field is filled for a wallpaper pic? do you people actually think or just like to suck off devs? pffft please! it is undeniably a suspect app.
If the tactics shown by the dev is supported and tolerated by you people, what hope do you have for a clean trustworthy app market and culture?

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:48:30 +0000

I can’t believe they still haven’t updated this post and remove the blame on the poor developer!

shame shame shame!

By: MansterRock

MansterRock — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:03:35 +0000

Nice rebuttal by app dev. Seriously Phandroid. You really need to check those facts out from BOTH sides before you post something like this.

On another note however, Market Spammers by the wallpaper devs is out of control. Most of these wallpaper apps clutter up the market with multiple apps by the same dev that could all be handled in one app.

I pay for all apps that allow me to pay for them. Yet it seems ok for these wallpaper app devs, case in point in the rebuttal, to steal other peoples property. Show us your licensing contract with Sanrio that allows you to use Hello Kitty in your app!

By: Oletros

Oletros — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:34:49 +0000

The response from the developer:

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/documents/35072457

By: SwampFox

SwampFox — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:22:53 +0000

Android does have IP Tables, there are firewall apps out already but they are above 99% of the users heads. This is a serious accusation and Phandroid really should make ABSOLUTE sure that it is legit before repeating news like this as it can ruin a company/developer’s career for a long time. At the very least they can be out months or years of work… I looked at some of their wallpapers and they do not seem to be asking for permissions to anything any more personal than any app running admob, quattro, or google ads. Also, to the person that commented about rooted phones. You must individually grant an app root permissions, so obviously you would not grant access to a wallpaper app!

By: Logotic

Logotic — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:01:46 +0000

It’s just a way for the Chinese to get a laugh. Every time someone installs of these lame jackeey apps, they go “Ha-ha! Another roundeye loser! America no threat to us!”

By: Fjord Prefect

Fjord Prefect — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:02:08 +0000

I never have problems with my wallpaper app sending sensitive data to communist countries on my iPhone. Must be an Android thing.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:49:34 +0000

I believe READ_PHONE_STATE, INTERNET, AND COURSE_POSITION are usually required for most Advertising libraries. So if it has a banner ad, it’s probably collecting all that data to deliver targeted data as well as to keep track of which handset is making ad requests.

By: Shinzakura

Shinzakura — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:21:48 +0000

“so we can’t outright call it malicious”

But you just did two paragraphs prior. Editing can be your friend.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:13:04 +0000

what is even more dumbfounding, is the first ones to comment negatively about Phandroid’s posts, are of the first to read & post on this site. Buncha trolling haters.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:50:24 +0000

@derrickISONLINE Its not to difficult to do at all if they haven’t ripped IPtables out of Linux. But the same person that read right past the permissions on this app would grant it permission to make outgoing connections to get the wallpapers. I don’t really think firewalls help the consumer all that much with things making outgoing connections. They won’t know what to block.

By: ChazClout

ChazClout — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:32:24 +0000

@ DKYang

An Appleinsider article stated:
“The data theft was only discovered afterward, through forensics performed by mobile security firm named Lookout which sells virus and malware protection software for Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices.”

That was why i was under the impression the sold their software.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/29/millions_of_android_users_hit_by_malicious_data_theft_app.html

Last time I take any notice of an Apple site regarding Android news. ;)

By: derrickISONLINE

derrickISONLINE — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:20:23 +0000

Looks like we’re going to need a ZoneAlarm-like firewall app for our phones now! It was only a matter of time.

By: uprooted

uprooted — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:31:12 +0000

And if your phone is rooted (or rootable) just imagine the kind of things malicious apps can do and the data they can collect!