A security firm, SMobile (Columbus, OH), found from it's investigation into Android Mobile Apps in the Android marketplace that security flaws are rampant. Over 48,000 apps in the marketplace were determined to have flaws based on SMobile's study titled Threat Analysis of the Android Market.
This discovery is particularly alarming since 20% of Android mobile apps request permission to access sensitive information from user's accounts. The report also outlines apps that degrade the overall user experience of Android and Android marketplace. In some cases, the report documents apps that allow the software maker to monitor the communications of an unsuspecting user. Ultimately, SMobile's report labeled the risky or sketchy apps with three classes:
This isn't to say that these security issues are worse than the security problems faced by many PC owners for years.
Apple has been criticized for such a tight control over it's mobile marketplace, however, they seem to have less problems with security for the time being. Apple has made it much more difficult for developers and publishers on the other hand.
There will continue to be a lot of debate over the best balance between competition and creativity within a mobile marketplace or tight control and security.