January 30, 2009 by Tap
Given the open nature of the Android Marketplace, it was only a matter of time until we started to hear talk of dodgy or even malicious Android applications. Step forward eMobieStudio's MemoryUp, an optimisation program designed to reclaim unused memory. Rumour has it that once installed, the app was able to delete files. Not only that, it was accused of sending spam using personal contact information, removing calendar items, corrupting memory and placing adware onto the G1. Pretty strong accusations, all of which have been denied by both eMobieStudio and Google who investigated the app and found that "In the versions we tested, MemoryUp cannot perform any of the malicious things it is reported to have done."
Despite these findings and the fact that applications are well sandboxed within the OS, it seems that MemoryUp has been removed from the marketplace which is obviously a blow to its developers. More importantly however is that fact that this incident has brought into question the open nature of the Android Marketplace itself. Unlike Apple's App Store which has a fairly strict screening process, the Android Marketplace provides developers with "an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available." The process of regulating the marketplace has been passed onto the users themselves who are able to rate applications or even flag them as harmful. In the case of MemoryUp this process worked although the worrying downside is that in this instance the application was binned as a result of an imaginary threat. On the one hand this has got to be a bit of a concern for other Android developers. On the other hand it is a clear indication that applications deemed as useless or malicious will not be tolerated in the Android Marketplace which has to be a good thing for end users.
Via: ars technica