Google has the ability to remotely remove applications from Android devices and yesterday the company did just that.
In 2008, a hacker discovered that Apple could remotely uninstall apps from iPhones after they'd been paid for and installed. Just last year, Amazon remotely removed copies of 1984 from customers' Kindles. It raised eyebrows when we found out Apple could do it and it caused uproar when Amazon actually did it (without saying anything to paying customers). So how will people feel now that it's Google?
Google today announced that it has remotely removed two Android applications from users' phones. The applications in question were developed by a security researcher for research purposes and Google says they intentionally misrepresented their purpose in order to encourage user downloads. The apps were never designed to be used maliciously, and did not have permission to access private data — or system resources beyond permission.INTERNET. In fact, Google said the apps were pretty useless, and most people uninstalled it soon after the downloaded it, anyway.
The developer responsible for the applications is said to have voluntarily removed the apps from the Android Market Place, but Google made the decision to remotely remove the applications from users' phones "to complete the clean up."
Android Security Lead, Rich Cannings, said the remote application removal tool is a security measure to protect against malicious applications and while they, "hope to not have to use it," they know they can take swift action on behalf of their users' safety if they need to.
"This remote removal functionality — along with Android’s unique Application Sandbox and Permissions model, Over-The-Air update system, centralized Market, developer registrations, user-submitted ratings, and application flagging — provides a powerful security advantage to help protect Android users in our open environment," Cannings finished.
Check out his full post on the Android Developers Blog.
It's not about apps being useless it's about not removing anything from a user's phone without consent. Key word here being consent which any company should learn to ask.
No but if the garbage man came into my house without permission and took my garbage I'd be pretty pissed. This is what Google is doing and it is wrong regardless of the app.
I am against remote-uninstallation of any kind. If I downloaded the app, it's because I WANTED IT. If it's not what I expected, I WILL DELETE IT ON MY OWN. KTHXBAI.
It's not about apps being useless it's about not removing anything from a user's phone without consent. Key word here being consent which any company should learn to ask.
I get the whole "user privacy" thing, but if Google never had access to anyone's data, application, or usage stats just from this application, then no breach of privacy occurred.
On a separate note, most people don't realize that you probably have thrown away more personal information into the trash can than you've ever stored on your phone.
No but if the garbage man came into my house without permission and took my garbage I'd be pretty pissed. This is what Google is doing and it is wrong regardless of the app.
Yes, I am rather skeptical of some of Google's practices. I don't like how they want to store all my info and use it to provide targeted advertising. But, I can appreciate how Google might want to protect their users from a developer attempting to misuse the app store for who knows what.
I do think that the consumer needs to be much more picky about which apps they install. The people who get their information stolen are the same people responsible for making their information available in the first place.
"That poker game you downloaded has been sending virus emails to everyone in your contacts list, so we disabled it"
not Apple-style: "We didn't see a point to it personally, so we made the choice for you and removed it."
I am against remote-uninstallation of any kind. If I downloaded the app, it's because I WANTED IT. If it's not what I expected, I WILL DELETE IT ON MY OWN. KTHXBAI.
Exactly. There is a difference between emptying the can at the curb and breaking into my locked house to get that trash...
Although, if some virus does reach my phone the chances of anybody "remotely removing" it would seem a bit challenging if its already a brick...
Saving me the trip to through the back to the dumpster AND preventing wife-nag reminders to take out the trash. I'd likely tip him!
I do agree that Google should have provided an update system that listed disabled apps for user removal. Disable immediately, allow the user to unlock that disable flag or uninstall in their normal app update process so they are aware of what is being done.
but explain the issues with the app.
"One mans trash is another mans treasure"
Until I put the garbage in the trash, it is not trash. How would you like it if I went through your home and chose what to throw away for you?
You click no. Android puts a red border around the app, and bugs you every time you try to run it.
Voila, a choice.