14 DAY TRIAL // One of the features the Android Market sports, though rarely used, is the possibility to remotely wipe applications from Android-based mobile phones. According to Google, this feature is used only at times when applications violate certain Market policies, and has been recently used in such a case. Two software solutions distributed via the Android Market were removed this way.
“Recently, we became aware of two free applications built by a security researcher for research purposes. These applications intentionally misrepresented their purpose in order to encourage user downloads, but they were not designed to be used maliciously, and did not have permission to access private data - or system resources beyond permission.INTERNET. As the applications were practically useless, most users uninstalled the applications shortly after downloading them,” a post on the Android Developers blog reads.
According to the post, the developer of these applications voluntarily removed them from the Android Market, and Google decided “to exercise [the] remote application removal feature on the remaining installed copies to complete the cleanup.” This feature is described in the Android Market Terms of Service, and was meant to offer protection against malicious applications that might pose a threat to end-users. Android phone owners are notified as soon as an app is removed from their devices in this manner.
“The remote application removal feature is one of many security controls Android possesses to help protect users from malicious applications. In case of an emergency, a dangerous application could be removed from active circulation in a rapid and scalable manner to prevent further exposure to users. While we hope to not have to use it, we know that we have the capability to take swift action on behalf of users’ safety when needed,” the said blog post continues.
Google is not the only company that ensures the security of handsets running under its mobile operating system is such a manner. When announcing the launch of Windows Marketplace for Mobile in October last year, Microsoft also unveiled the existence of such a tool in its inventory. For what it's worth, it does sound good that they watch over the integrity of user's devices.