How secure are Market Apps with our personal info on the phone

momentoid · November 13th, 2009, 05:36 PM

I have been wondering over the last few days since getting an Android phone and trying to configure it to make it at least as productive as my previous smartphone. How secure is the information in a world where we put a large amount of personal info behind google-id and password? This id and pwd is plugged into the phone for functionality. We browse the Android Market for necessary apps provided by complete strangers and click Install. We click OK when caution is raised, with unknowing consequences and taking complete responsibility for the installation. Am I justified in being paranoid with Android model of doing things?

Please read the thread "ActiveSync for Android, Moment?" to understand better why I raise this question.

maxdamage2122 · November 13th, 2009, 05:50 PM

Your paranoia is just but to single out the "android model" is not fair. You do have the option to not have any of your contacts/calander/etc sync online with google or even sign into google. Anytime any of your information is placed somewhere online there are security risks. If at all you feel your information is unsafe in the hands of google then it is up to you to not give them that information. In other words it is up to you to keep your information safe. If you don't want to risk your information online then don't put it there.

momentoid · November 14th, 2009, 11:38 PM

Point taken. My concern is about the apps that are installed to make Android more functional. On WinOS systems, we have been spending precious resources with Anti-virus, Anti-{bad stuff} to protect information from some malignant software. On Android we are willingly installing software, and giving access, without much thought to the credentials of app providers. Just wondering if there is a protection mechanism in place to verify each and every app that appears on Android Market is not abusing access.

AndroidSPCS · November 15th, 2009, 02:26 AM

No worries, the same model has been around since the 90's with the Palm applications, and it had no major problems with malware unlike Windows (LOL).

iPhone is the same as well, and no major problems with over 100,000 apps.