Android Snake Game Is A Spy!!!

[mastermind1431]

Another malicious application has been found from the Android Market. A game called Tap Snake isn't just a game, it turns out to be a client for a commercial spying application called GPS SPY.

The Tap Snake game looks like an average "Snake" clone. However, there are two hidden features. First, the game won't exit. Once installed, it runs in the background forever, and restarts automatically when you boot the phone. And secondly, every 15 minutes the game secretly reports the GPS location of the phone to a server.

To read more....Pls check out here...

 

[tom_pop]

That's really mad I bet there will be loads of apps with stuff like this over time. Nice post

 

[Hrethgir]

Seriously, the Android market is a little too free and open. There's got to be SOME kind of security check going on! I really hope there is by the time I get an Android handset, this is the one facet of Android that I am unhappy about.

 

[ianr]

There's no real way to make apps safe, Apple's claimed code vetting is extremely cursory as they don't have the time and staff to vet all the code in an app in detail as it's a time-consuming task. Also once an app is cleared the developer can add malicious code in updates without the app being inspected again. Apps get pulled from Apple's market all the time and they don't tell you which ones or why. So I wouldn't worry too much, you're not any worse off.

 

[wayrad]

The linked article reads like an advertisement or press release, doesn't it? Only $4.99, going fast!

 

[The Nooner]

On the f-secure site basically it was part 2 of a paid tracking app, you buy the app on your phone. Then install the free snake game on the person you want to tracks phone. I went to show my wife the permissions last night (she is new to android) but the app was pulled already.

 

[badankles]

yeah, i like how they generate the fear so you buy their product. hey, have you ever got a pain just under the upper part of the arm but not quite at the armpit? a constant, but sometime intermittent pain that at times feel like a pin prick or sledge hammer? well, there's a drug you can take for that. no pain after 30 days or your money back.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Looks like the app was pulled. I'll bet money that when you installed it it asked for for your GPS location. All you have to do is read the permissions when you install the app. It's not that difficult.

 

[KlaymenDK]

Hey everyone, I think this is getting a wee bit out of proportion...?

As The Nooner said, this is apparently the "target" half of a track-and-monitor application. You may not like the concept, but plenty of people apparently do (I've been in discussion with at least two fathers wishing to track their kids with something not unlike this). Installing only the tracker, without the monitor, is kind of pointless, but for obvious reasons they're not going to advertise that in the tracker, now are they?

Second, no way is anyone being conned here. The way apps are installed, it's pretty evident that this game wants GPS privileges. I other words, you have to install this surreptitiously on someone's phone so that they miss that warning. That's not a weakness of Android, that's simple social hacking.

In other words, folks need to tell their spouse/parent/whoever to keep their gefingerpoken off of your springenwerk, or better yet, learn to lock your gear when you're not in possesion of it.

 

[Hrethgir]

There's no real way to make apps safe, Apple's claimed code vetting is extremely cursory as they don't have the time and staff to vet all the code in an app in detail as it's a time-consuming task. Also once an app is cleared the developer can add malicious code in updates without the app being inspected again. Apps get pulled from Apple's market all the time and they don't tell you which ones or why. So I wouldn't worry too much, you're not any worse off.

Yeah, I guess that's true enough, good point. I'm not saying I won't switch to Android over stuff like this, of course, it's just a concern.

 

[ianr]

On the f-secure site basically it was part 2 of a paid tracking app, you buy the app on your phone. Then install the free snake game on the person you want to tracks phone. I went to show my wife the permissions last night (she is new to android) but the app was pulled already.

Yeah that trickled out after the event, like the last one with the screen saver app. I'll bet the apple fanboys are whooping it up on Mac rumours like they were with the last FUD article, I had a look and it was quite revolting. Far far worse than even the worst anti Mac stuff I've seen.

 

[mastermind1431]

This app is only one that has come into light.... there may be lot out there in the market which would peep into your smart phone without ur knowledge....

This thread is to make our excited Android fans/users to have a proper check before they install any games or other apps.....

 

[KlaymenDK]

New users should read the first post in the thread

• How to be safe, find trusted apps, & avoid viruses - A guide for those new to Android

and they would be much better equipped for dealing with these things themselves ("teach a man to fish...").