7 years of Android: A painful journey to world dominance
Exactly seven years ago to the day (September 23rd), after much speculation, Google finally lifted the lid on its secret project, one which would go onto change the mobile world.
Android
Android trojan drops in, despite Google’s Bouncer
ESET recently discovered an interesting stealth attack on Android users, an app that is a regular game but with an interesting addition: the application was bundled with another application.
Google announces ‘Vulnerability Research Grants’
Google has announced it is to pay out research grants to security researchers seeking out potential bugs, even if they turn up empty-handed, reports ZDNet.
Wearable tech and security – can watches help?
So far, wearable tech has been of interest mainly to fitness fiends - but a new generation of hi-tech wearables comes armed with built-in scanners, biometrics and even 'three-factor security'. Can a watch really keep secrets?
Chat apps leak: Billion app users from OKCupid to Grindr at risk
Nearly a billion users of a dozen chat apps for Android including popular apps such as Instagram, Oovoo, OKCupid and Grindr could be at risk from eavesdroppers and snoopers after University of New Haven researchers found serious data leakage problems.
Android security mystery – ‘fake’ cellphone towers found in U.S.
Seventeen mysterious cellphone towers have been found in America which can only be identified by a heavily customized handset built for Android security - but seem to be built to spy on passing cellphone users, according to Popular Science.
Krysanec trojan: Android backdoor lurking inside legitimate apps
One of the most important pieces of advice we give Android users is to refrain from downloading applications from dubious sources and to stick to the official Google Play store, where malware does show up from time to time but is much better controlled, thanks to the Google Bouncer, than on alternative app stores.
Android security flaw gives bad apps super‑powers
A new Android flaw potentially affecting up to 80% of users could leave handsets vulnerable to rogue apps - leapfrogging the defenses used to ensure malicious developers are kept out.
Android/Simplocker using FBI child‑abuse warnings to scare victims into paying $300
Last time we wrote about Android/Simplocker – the first ransomware for Android that actually encrypts user files – we discussed different variants of the malware and various distribution vectors that we’ve observed. Android/Simplocker has proven to be an actual threat in-the-wild in spite of its weaknesses…
Android bug in most smartphones could let rogue apps run wild
Nearly all Android smartphones contain bugs which can allow rogue apps to ignore the Permissions used to control them, according to German security researchers.
Android Wi‑Fi bug broadcasts where you’ve been
A feature in newer Android phones puts users' privacy at risk - effectively broadcasting an accurate location history over the air even when the handset's screen is turned off, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
UPDATED: Simplocker ransomware: New variants spread by Android downloader apps
ESET LiveGrid® telemetry has indicated several new infection vectors used by Android/Simplocker. The “typical” ones revolve around internet porn, or popular games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
ESET Analyzes Simplocker – First Android File‑Encrypting, TOR‑enabled Ransomware
Last weekend saw the (somewhat anticipated) discovery of an interesting mobile trojan – the first spotting of a file-encrypting ransomware for Android by our detection engineers.
Android to power Space Station’s “Star Wars” floating robot
No one is too surprised to meet robots on the International Space Station - its Robonaut has posed for dozens of photos with astronauts - but a floating ball with an Android smartphone and multiple cameras aboard may turn heads.
Android “eye spyware” takes photos without users knowing
Android users beware: a loophole in the mobile OS allows apps to take pictures without users knowing and upload them to the internet, a researcher has found.
Android malware? Google will be watching your every move
Google is to boost security on its Android devices, by continuously checking apps to see that they haven’t mutated into malicious Android malware, monitoring all apps on Android devices for suspicious behavior, according to PC World.
Stealth malware sneaks onto Android phones, then “turns evil” when OS upgrades
A new form of Android malware could bypass one of the main warning systems built into Google’s smartphone and tablet OS - allowing malicious apps to ‘sneak’ onto a phone with a relatively innocuous list of ‘Permissions’, then add new, malicious abilities.
Google Glass spyware lets snoopers “see through wearer’s eyes”
Spyware which stealthily takes photographs using Google Glass’s built-in camera and uploads them to a remote server without the user being aware has been demonstrated successfully on the eyepiece - despite Google’s policies explicitly forbidding such programs.
Hidden backdoor in top Samsung Galaxy models ‘allows remote spying on users’
A hidden backdoor in the modified version of Android run by nine Samsung Galaxy models could allow attackers to spy remotely on user data - and even snoop on users using hardware such as the GPS system, camera and microphone.
Boeing unveils encrypted ‘Black’ spy phone which self‑destructs when tampered with
Boeing has unveiled a smartphone fit for James Bond - the Boeing Black, which can connect to satellites and secret government telecoms networks, will self-destruct if tampered with, deleting all data and rendering the device useless.