DEBUNKED: "MemoryUp" wreaks havoc on Android phones

DEBUNKED: “MemoryUp” wreaks havoc on Android phones

January 25, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka

Android, Android Apps

« 1 of »

UPDATE: GOOGLE HAS CLEARED MEMORYUP OF ANY WRONGDOING AND SAID THAT THE APP COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEMS FOR WHICH IT HAS BEEN ACCUSED. MEMORYUP IS NOT MALWARE ACCORDING TO THIS STATEMENT:

“We have investigated and determined that MemoryUp is not malware,” a Google spokeswoman said in a statement to Wired.com. “In the versions we tested, MemoryUp cannot perform any of the malicious things it is reported to have done.”

————-

The open nature of the Android Market has produced its first security threat as the “MemoryUp Personal” application is reportedly causing numerous problems for people who download it. MemoryUp’s comment section is littered with complaints from users who say the app deleted data on their microSD cards, removed all of their contacts, spammed their e-mail address, and installed adware onto their phone.

MemoryUp enticed thousands to download the app by describing itself as a “handy memory optimizer tool that will keep your Android smartphone running faster and efficiently.” It actually had the opposite effect by bogging down phones. There is actually no need to use MemoryUp because the Android automatically performs the features this app promises. Yet, as one user noted, it is often displayed as a featured app when entering the Market.

Until now, the G1/HTC Dream and the Open Handset Alliance have been praised for the level openness afforded to Android. By comparison, Apple’s iPhone App Store has many restrictions that have blocked the development and release of many apps. This recent turn of events could cause some to wonder if both distribution models may benefit from incorporating some of the other’s features. One security mishap is not cause to abandon one of Android’s greatest strengths, but some added level of security or screening may be necessary.

[AndroidCommunity]

apps, market, news, security

4 Comments

Mike said: On January 26, 2009

This article is about a month too late! The app has been appearing at the top of the new apps list about 5 times already. However, I have installed it (and after a few days uninstalled it) and it didn’t do anything malicious to my phone. On the other hand, like the article states, it didn’t do anything helpful either.

Cloud said: On January 26, 2009

Yay trojans!

The Android Site said: On February 2, 2009

I never actually had a problem with this app or the other memory apps I tried, but they didn’t actually do much useful. One of them actually made my available RAM go down.

Chris said: On July 29, 2010

"Apple’s iPhone App Store has many restrictions that have blocked the development and release of many apps"

seriously, i got blocked like three times in a row, first i used an icon for the store that was slightly different then the one in the app(i lost the origional so just mocked up a similar one) then because i used the "myapp for ios4" so that people wouldnt get confused with the non ios4 version, but you cant use "ios4' and then because an in app icon had a resemblance to something of thiers, either way it could have been all said in one email instead of letting me fix, repost then deny, then fix, repost then deny etc…

Android Apps and News

Thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Unpacked 2013

Diztronic case review for LG Nexus 4

Why I decided to purchase the Nexus 4

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - Verizon Remix Version

HTC DROID DNA Review

Samsung Galaxy Note II Review

Android News