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Google can remotely remove applications from your Android phone
Google, in a fantastic case of counter-PR, has published a story detailing how it has the ability to remotely remove applications from an Android phone. It comes just a day after the sensational news that up to 20% of Android apps could be malware, and is obviously intended to showcase some of the meatier safeguards available on the Android platform.The story details how the Android Security team removed two applications that broke the Android Market Terms of Service -- here's the clause in question:
2.4 From time to time, Google may discover a Product on the Market that violates the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement or other legal agreements, laws, regulations or policies. You agree that in such an instance Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your Device at its sole discretion and without notice to you.
(Is 'from time to time' regular legalese?)
The story itself leaves a lot of questions unanswered -- are developers contacted before their app is removed? is the app's locally-stored data purged? -- but the point of it is clear: Google wants you to know that they have a firm reign on the Android Market. Erroneous apps will be exterminated.
I feel safer already!
Comments
15
Subscribe to commentsJoeJun 25th 2010 7:43AM
This is a silly post.
Yes, they can remove violating apps, as can Apple and Palm. Unlike others, they only remove bad apps from their own marketplace, and you have access to other marketplaces and locally installed apps.
As the other post about the 20% was a bunch of sensationalist crap, misinterpreting this is just plain silly.
Sebastian AnthonyJun 25th 2010 7:45AM
Ya, I wondered if they could remove non-Marketplace apps -- it doesn't say that that's explicitly the case, does it?
KarlWJun 25th 2010 9:29AM
I don't think Apple can remove an app that is already on your device.
At least, I bought NetShare (remember that?) from the AppStore when it was still available. Now I can sync it to any iDevice for free tethering over WiFi.
Apple's removed it from the store, but I still have my copy on iTunes :)
Will HauckJun 25th 2010 10:26AM
I agree 100%. I'm getting tired of reading Download Squad with your very biased posts.
WeixJun 25th 2010 4:18PM
Man, read the article carefully first, PLEASE! You seem simply don't know what the author is talking about.
Drew GreenJun 25th 2010 8:44AM
What about apps that are available on the Market but were obtained through other channels?
Sebastian AnthonyJun 25th 2010 8:49AM
Not sure. Someone needs to pore through the TOS...
SilverWaveJun 25th 2010 12:00PM
Using the Market you agree to this - but only for stuff installed from the Market.
JoeJun 25th 2010 9:54AM
@KarlW
Yes, Apple can - http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/06/apples-ability-to-deactivate-malicious-app-store-apps/
From the article: "the iPhone calls home once in a while to find out what applications it should turn off."
This is for blacklisted applications. Apps removed from the App Store are not necessarily blacklisted apps.
SilverWaveJun 25th 2010 11:57AM
http://jon.oberheide.org/blog/2010/06/25/remote-kill-and-install-on-google-android/
SilverWaveJun 25th 2010 12:05PM
Interesting: "the Android platform not only allows for the removal of applications remotely via the REMOVE_ASSET intent, but also allows for the installation of new applications via the INSTALL_ASSET intent. If some people are upset that Google retains the ability to kill applications remotely (I personally prefer the potential security gains of the functionality), I fear what they’d think of the INSTALL_ASSET feature. ;-)"
Sebastian AnthonyJun 25th 2010 12:06PM
Ah, interesting info -- thanks for the link!
SilverWaveJun 25th 2010 12:02PM
That last link is to the guy who put the app up.
It was a proof of concept... he says.
More like a way of advertising himself and the security comp\any he works for iyam.
dhfinchJun 25th 2010 1:27PM
What they should do is auto-update the app to their own stock tool that would detail the reasons for removal and the marketplace details for the original software developers.
Unilateral removal of apps or content that users may have paid for is never popular, but this approach would keep users informed and might even improve fix times if developers are more visibly responsible to their users.
WeixJun 25th 2010 4:28PM
Google, as usual, simply doesn't care about anyone's privacy and rights, since it makes big money from your privacy. I will stay away from google as far as I can.