Misc

PSA: Don’t Download the Android Market Security Tool, Period

14

Just a quick word of advice for those of you who are feeling a bit icky due to recent viruses and malware in the Android market – don’t download the Android Market Security Tool. The version in the Android market is clean and straight from Google, but you do not need to install this on your own. Google will use this tool automatically whenever they do a security sweep.

There’s another version on alternate app stores with the same name and icon, but these are injected with viruses. Do not download these either, for obvious reasons. Your best bet is to let Google do what they do and if you’re still feeling a bit vulnerable, check out official offerings from LookoutAVG and more. (Or just do extensive research and check permissions on the applications you do download.) [PC World]

Quentyn Kennemer
The "Google Phone" sounded too awesome to pass up, so I bought a G1. The rest is history. And yes, I know my name isn't Wilson.

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14 Comments

  1. Fosho. I have them both.

  2. Thanks for this news. saved our phones….

  3. If you don’t know what you’re doing.. don’t sideload.

  4. Uhhh….it says so right in the market’s description….. this is redundant.

  5. you know people are going to install it anyway. cursorily killed the cat :P

  6. @Inspiron41 Cursorily or curiosity? o_0

  7. Actually, the way I understood it, is that the only thing Google can do is remotely wipe apps. You need Google’s (clean version) security tool to reverse any damage that said malicious apps may have incurred.

  8. I don’t know why people haven’t learned the basics yet, whether it’s on your phone or your PC. If you’re not getting your software through trusted channels, you run a significantly higher risk of viruses and malware.

    If it seems shady, it probably IS. All of the infections so far have been from shady downloads on shady, third party “App sites”.

  9. Sean: You are incorrect. There were 50 apps in the market that were replicas of real apps, but with malicious code added.

  10. @Sean – that sounds like the fantasy that AT&T would like you to believe.

  11. I actually don’t like that Google can access my phone whenever they like without my say so. Feels more than a bit creepy and like George Orwels 1984… If I whant security on my phone or not should be up to me.

  12. Ignorance is not always bliss. I lawl at those who cant figure out basic phone securtiy

  13. Don’t get me wrong, there’s more reputable sources than just the Google marketplace. I’m not so security conscious as to discount known BitTorrent sites and sources, even, but I sure as hell ain’t googling “free download” and then clicking the first http://www.warezwarehouse.ru link and blindly clicking pop-ups and OK on every menu that comes up in the hopes of saving that $1.99 on a new game.

  14. i think the openess of the market was great at first but i really think google should start really filtering out the junk. I by no means am an apple fan but perhaps taking a small tip from their.book and securing the market with only approved apps might be a good call. Lets get back to quality and security. When i wake up in the morning thw last thing i.want.to think about is a virus or stolen info on my phone.

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