A mobile security expert has warned that he had discovered several new flaws in Google’s Android which can be exploited by hackers to attack devices based on the popular operating system.

Privateer Labs’ founder Riley Hassell said that he, in partnership with his colleague Shane Macaulay, had discovered more than a dozen popular Android applications which could make phones an easy target for hackers.

Explaining his point, Hassell said that developers often fail to adhere by security guidelines while writing apps, and leave phones vulnerable to attacks.

Speaking on the topic, he said, “Some apps expose themselves to outside contact. If these apps are vulnerable, then an attacker can remotely compromise that app and potentially the phone using something as simple as a text message.”

However, he declined to name those applications.

Last week, Mr. Hassell caused a stir when he declined to appear at a hacker's conference. Now, he claims that he and colleague decided not to reveal their research at the conference for fear that criminals would use it to attack Android phones.