After remaining tight-lipped for numerous days, Google finally confirmed that it removed dozens of malware-infecting apps from its Android Market.

The Web search giant, Google, also announced that it would also remove the malicious apps users’ devices. The company said it would make use of a kill switch to remotely eliminate the malicious apps from users' devices. It added that an Android security update would be issued to affected users for repairing the damage done by the apps.

Commenting on the issue, Google wrote in the company blog that only those devices that run an Android version earlier than v2.2.2 were susceptible to the malicious apps.

The concerned apps had been modified to include the malware. Once downloaded, these malicious apps would clandestinely install malware on the device to steal users’ personal details like handset’s unique IMEI number. Talking advantage of security vulnerabilities, these malicious apps would also put in a backdoor app to let further installation of pirated software.

As per TechChrunch report, Google identified and removed a total of fifty-eight malware-infecting apps on last Tuesday, but not before that they were already downloaded to as many as 260,000 devices.