After reading about a few rouge Android applications out there looking to steal your privacy and information, it brings forward good advice: be very careful when installing applications and be sure to check who wrote them and what kind of access they want with your Android.
Engadget has a great article they posted up after reading some info from slashdot regarding applications from a user named Droid09. Apparently they were passing off applications for banks as real and just stealing your bank info to gain access to your hard earned money. It should be noted that before you ever give any information, log ins, passwords etc of any nature, be sure you know to whom you are giving the information.
They bring up a good point in the article about the markets available to users. Apple’s market is very tightly watched and even criticized almost daily on it’s app approval process and closed, mysterious system. While Android’s market is so open it’s almost too confusing sometimes. Which would you rather have, a closed market that requires very specific rules and often times difficult to follow approval processes, or a more open market where bad apps can work their way into the system? Granted, these apps have been removed already, but not before a few unlucky users got taken.
I guess the moral i: be careful. If you are in any doubt, look at the developer of the application. Look at the developers other apps and/or history. How long has the application been available? What are the ratings and reviews? If it looks sketchy, treat it as such until you are sure you can trust them.
