Should Google check Android apps

In recent times Apple have come under fire for operating what can be seen as a "walled garden" when it comes to their App Store. If you are a developer and you want to release an app on the iPhone or other device running iOS your app needs to be approved by Apple before it can be accessed vie the App store.

Some developers claim this gives Apple an unfair advantage and prevents mobile developers being able to release apps that compete with software that is either included within iOS or is made available from Apple.

Apple argue that by reviewing every app that is submitted to the App store they are able to better protect end users. If unsafe software was to find its way into the app store it would have implications for iOS users.

Unsafe apps may extract personal information from users devices and make such details available to the app developers. Unsafe apps could also be used to gain access to users bank or credit card information and could be used to commit crimes of fraud against unsuspecting users.

The Google Android operating system works very differently. Google does not verify any apps prior to them being released to the Android market. This means it is far easier for a developer to get a potentialy hazerdois app onto users devices. Google do have a system for reporting dangerous apps and have been known to remove such items from the market and also users devices.

Its an ongoing debate between two distinct  parties. One side wanting an open platform where anyone can contribute anything without having any one entity being able to  decide what is and what is not worthy. On the other side of the debate there is a view that user privacy and safety comes first and someone needs to determine what is and what is not safe for inclusion.

The bottom line is only install an app if you trust it, and before you install an Android app look and see exactly what permissions it requires. If you don't trust it, don't install it.

Mack.