21 Malware Apps Infiltrate Android, Get Smacked by G-men

Android has a reputation for being the open platform. The one free from the tyranny of Apple's techno-fascist App Store. But freedom comes at a price, and yesterday we got a pretty clear look at what it looks like.

21 malware apps, released by a single shady publisher and downloaded by between 50k and 200k users, were identified and later shut down. The website Android Police was on the case.

In a scenario similar to instances of  old-school malware, the apps were knockoffs of some popular legit programs, like Guitar Solo and Chess. The fakes, created by a publisher called Myournet, bore malicious code capable of hijacking your phone and/or sending your personal data to a remote server. Upon learning of the bad apples via Android Police, Google acted swiftly. The programs were reportedly shutdown within five minutes.

Still, the prospect of a mobile platform plagued by insidious malware is one that anyone in the business must be vigilant about at the prevention stage. Android is gloriously liberal, but there is a method to iOS's dictatorial madness.

Here is a list of the bad apps (say it ain't so, Screaming Sexy Japanese Girls!):

[Mashable]