A couple of days ago we were reporting that the Skype for Android app is plagued by a vulnerability that puts the users’ privacy in jeopardy. To be more precise, the data stored locally by the Skype for Android app (cached profile information, contacts, and message logs) is not encrypted and the database files have incorrect permissions. This means that if the user were to install a malicious 3rd party app, that app could gain access to private, confidential data stored by Skype for Android.

The news is that Skype has addressed the abovementioned vulnerability by releasing a new version of the Skype for Android app to the Android Market.

Skype advises all users to get the latest version of Skype for Android and stay safe and secure. The good news is that there are no reports of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability, but you never know, the bad guys could attempt to exploit it now that it’s public.

“We have had no reported examples of any 3rd party malicious application misusing information from the Skype directory on Android devices and will continue to monitor closely. Please rest assured that we do take your privacy and security very seriously and we sincerely apologise for any concern this issue may have caused,” commented Skype’s Adrian Asher.

Apart from keeping your private info safe and secure, there is one other good reason why you should get the latest version of the Skype for Android app. That reason is that US Skype for Android users can now make calls over 3G with the app. In the past only Verizon customers could make calls and chat on a 3G data connection while the rest of the users had to make due with WiFi. This nuisance has been dealt with and now all Skype for Android users can make calls on WiFi as well as 3G.