NEW DELHI: Google has a Kill Switch in Android. In a blog post, the company disclosed that it has remotely removed two applications from Android phones that ran contrary to the terms of the Android Market.
According to Rich Cannings, Android Security Lead, "Every now and then, we remove applications from Android Market due to violations of our Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement or Content Policy.
In cases where users may have installed a malicious application that poses a threat, we’ve also developed technologies and processes to remotely remove an installed application from devices. If an application is removed in this way, users will receive a notification on their phone."
According to the blog post, "The remote application removal feature is one of many security controls Android possesses to help protect users from malicious applications.
In case of an emergency, a dangerous application could be removed from active circulation in a rapid and scalable manner to prevent further exposure to users. While we hope to not have to use it, we know that we have the capability to take swift action on behalf of users’ safety when needed."
In a filing to US Federal Communications Commission in 2009, Google reportedly said that it had taken down about 1% of applications that had been uploaded to the Android Market because they failed to comply with Google's terms.
A survey by SMobile Systems of over 48,000 apps in the Android Market recently noted that "one in every five applications request permissions to access private or sensitive information that an attacker could use for malicious purposes."
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