Security Firm Discovers Android Apps Collecting Personal Info

U.S.-based security firm Lookout warns that more than 80 Google Android wallpaper apps were gathering mobile phone numbers and other personal details. According to Telegraph.co.uk, many of the apps send unencrypted sensitive data back to remote servers.

One such app, called Jackeey Wallpaper, sent information about the user’s phone number, unique identifier and voicemail number to a server in China. Kevin MaHaffey, Lookout’s chief technology officer, notes:

While this sort of data collection from a wallpaper application is certainly suspicious, there’s no evidence of malicious behavior.

Google spokesperson Jay Nancarrow told LinuxInsider that the company has suspended the application pending further investigation.

IT Business Edge's Carl Weinschenk wrote about security issues with mobile apps.