Android Malware in the Android Marketplace - the dangers of free

Android Police today reports that 21 applications (which have since been pulled) in the Android market, with between 50,000 and 200,000 downloads included malware, with capabilities including the rageagainstthecage or exploid root exploits, and that they upload data including "product ID, model, partner (provider?), language, country, and userI". Worse, their analysis shows the ability to self update.

Most of these apps appear to have been copies of existing apps, made available for free. This points out both the danger of the relatively open Android Market, and of uncontrolled app downloads for your users.

The original article is worth a read, and includes a list of the malware laden apps.