Comments on: Android Wallpaper Apps Falsely Accused of Spyware and Stealing Sensitive User Data [FUD]

By: The Android Developer forum Blog » Wallpaper Apps Exonerated, Google Posts Guidelines (UPDATED)

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:23:11 +0000

[...] It turns out that the developer, Jackeey Wu, was just collecting a unique identifier to enable users to keep favorites and settings after wiping their phone or on a new phone. Despite the fact that this was an unwise way to implement this feature, there was apparently no malicious intent. After a suspension from the Market so that Google could investigate, the apps have been reinstated. [...]

By: Charles Liu

Charles Liu — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:50:17 +0000

Google Market has declared the app safe and reinstated it.

But I have this feeling, just like all the other bogus “blame China” story, there will be no parity in effort to undo the damage. Just them commie ch!nks, who cares?

By: Warning!! Do not download apps from this developer!!!! - Android Forums

Warning!! Do not download apps from this developer!!!! - Android Forums — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:45:50 +0000

[...] sure who to believe on this one: Android Wallpaper Apps Falsely Accused of Spyware and Stealing Sensitive User Data [FUD] | Android T… This all may have been FUD by a security vendor who has monetary reasons to find things like this [...]

By: Portal dla fanów systemu Android - Spyware i kradzież poufnych danych. Bezpieczeństwo w Androidzie

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:27:35 +0000

[...] o całą sprawę twórcy tych aplikacji. Nikt mu nie dał szansy na odparcie tego ataku. Nikt poza http://www.androidtapp.com. Zamieścili oni wywiad z osobą, która pisała omawiane aplikacje.Jak można wyczytać z wywiadu, [...]

By: DC

DC — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:19:25 +0000

I have no interest in downloading wallpapers from an app. Kudos to you for reaching out to the developer and getting his side of the story. He obviously does not know what user data is. Why does he need the phone #?

I guess most people do not read reviews of apps before installing on their devices.

By: Bobby Fletcher

Bobby Fletcher — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:31:46 +0000

So easy to wave the “blame China” flag, and everybody indoctrinated to see China as our enemy just swallow stories like this hook line sinker.

By: FUD and Counter-FUD in the Android Market | Mobility Site

FUD and Counter-FUD in the Android Market | Mobility Site — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 09:53:58 +0000

[...] was all over the web this weekend. Not surprisingly, the backlash has begun. Antonio Wells at AndroidTapp declared the initial reports on the vulnerability and malwear to be FUD and contacted the Chinese [...]

By: Merick

Merick — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:24:22 +0000

This isn’t the first time these guys pulled FUD, watch this video and count how many times they say “terrorist” and “targetted attacks at Americans”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XXaqraF7pI

By: Neroon

Neroon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:54:20 +0000

Stupidest defense of data theft I have ever seen. It amounts to: “Android Users give us permission to steal their data, and others steal more data so that makes what we do ok”. Could this be any more clueless? Have fun with your Android Hackphones.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:23:14 +0000

Thanks for the clarification and followup. I thought the original report, instigated by a firm that would surely profit from it, had a bad smell.

Is there any place that maintains a list of firms that use FUD as a strategy so that we may boycott them???

By: archboy

archboy — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:48:08 +0000

Personally, I think this app and all these wallpaper is crapware anyways.

There’s no reason for me to download these apps in the first place. If I need a wallpaper for my phone I go and find the wallpaper that I like and PUT in onto my phone for my use.

By: Merick

Merick — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:45:46 +0000

Good job on this! Glad to see someone took the time to check the facts.

I really think this entire thing was intentional on Lookout’s part, their whole goal was to get PR from this at the expense of the developer they targeted. The fact that Lookout did not even attempt to contact the developer is irresponsible and just plain shitty.

What you should do is post what the Lookout application has access to. I installed their app and noticed that IT HAS ACCESS TO YOUR BROWSER HISTORY AND BOOKMARKS, as well as contacts, phone data, even your calendar. So here they are claiming an application has access to things, but their application has access to even more and what is more uploads it to a server and from what I can tell it is not encrypted.

By: [Android Tapp] Android Wallpaper Apps Falsely Accused of Spyware - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:09:03 +0000

[...] do not collect user data likes what the CEO of Lookout Said in venturebeat.com Source [...]

By: DaveIsAwesome

DaveIsAwesome — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:52:37 +0000

Looks like Android Central was able to get a hold of the developer too and he answered a few more questions.
http://www.androidcentral.com/android-privacy-concern-lookout-response#comment-52719