Symantec vs Lookout Mobile

Charles Arthur:

The dispute indicates that the conflict about the difference between [what Symantec believes is] malware and [what Lookout Mobile deems in just] "adware" – where software on the user's computer generates intrusive advertising.

I remember the endless parade of new IE windows in Windows 98SE when I'd gotten a virus of some sort or another. I can tell you the difference means nothing to the typical end-user. Besides… this (directly from the Android Market) doesn't sound simply like 'adware' to me:

Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.

Android is winning!

Also, from the same article, for free:

Rebundling often occurs when apps produced by reputable publishers are copied and then re-uploaded to the market by smaller publishers or by individuals as though they created them. Such copying is a persistent problem in the Android Market, where there is no pre-approval for apps.

(via The Guardian)

Symantec Hacked

Jon Brodkin, reporting for Ars Technica:

Symantec confirmed the theft of source code from the 2006 versions of several Norton security products and the pcAnywhere remote access tool, and that Symantec is advising customers to disable pcAnywhere until a permanent fix is issued.

Were I to purchase internet security software for my Mac (I won't) it wouldn't be from Symantec.