[QUOTE]A FLAW in the Android mobile operating system leaves the personal and financial details of users at risk of hacking, a mobile analytics firm says.
THE malicious software, called Fake ID, can impersonate other apps to gain access to secure areas of your phone and sensitive data that it holds, without the user becoming aware.
Android is the operating system developed by technology giant Google.
The malware was discovered by security firm Bluebox Security.
In a blog post on its website, Bluebox chief technology officer Jeff Forristal said the flaw "allows malicious applications to impersonate specially recognised trusted applications without any user notification".
"This is a widespread vulnerability dating back to the January 2010 release of Android 2.1," he said.
Forristal also suggested the malware could gain access to "financial and payment data by impersonating Google Wallet", an app that allows mobile payments, which would put user accounts at risk.
Google has moved to calm fears, confirming it has issued a fix to protect users.
"After receiving word of this vulnerability, we quickly issued a patch that was distributed to Android partners, as well as to the Android Open Source Project," a spokesman said.
The technology giant said it had not found any apps in the Google Play store that exploited the vulnerability.
Craig Young, security researcher at online firm Tripwire, said users of official Google apps were unlikely to face problems.
"Users without access to Google Play or who want an added layer of protection should install a mobile anti-virus product to detect this and other malicious apps," he said.
The flaw is the latest in a wave of recent vulnerabilities.
The Heartbleed bug that affected the SSL certificate used to encrypt user information on the web was discovered earlier this year, and led to a host of major websites issuing patches to protect users.
E-commerce giant eBay was another high profile victim of hacking earlier this year, when millions of user passwords and other data were compromised after a flaw was discovered in its security.
According to a 2013 survey, more than 60 per cent of the world's smartphones are Android devices.[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/android-malware-targets-sensitive-data/story-fn3dxix6-1227006970701"]http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/android-malware-targets-sensitive-data/story-fn3dxix6-1227006970701[/URL]
Are mobile anti virus apps really that effective? Going on it took some time to find the malware in the first place.
[QUOTE=Sally;45539695]Are mobile anti virus apps really that effective? Going on it took some time to find the malware in the first place.[/QUOTE]
if you don't download apps outside google play you won't need an antivirus at all :)
[QUOTE=meppers;45539916]if you don't download apps outside google play you won't need an antivirus at all :)[/QUOTE]
that's the retard solution
joke's on you, I don't use an Android
[QUOTE=meppers;45539916]if you don't download apps outside google play you won't need an antivirus at all :)[/QUOTE]
There are a shitton of free "games" etc that contain malware on the play store. Mostly targeted towards younger kids because they can't judge stuff like that.
[QUOTE=meppers;45539916]if you don't download apps outside google play you won't need an antivirus at all :)[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure this is entirely true. I removed malware from many friends/family members phones which were downloaded from google play.
Play store does have malware so you're not safe even if that's your only source of apps. Even a legit app can be updated by creator to contain malware.
However Google always can use their remote killswitch to insta-nuke apps.
[QUOTE]Android malware targets [B]sensitive data[/B][/QUOTE]
Well it wouldn't really be malicious if it targeted insensitive data, would it?
[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;45544059]However Google always can use their remote killswitch to insta-nuke apps.[/QUOTE]They can? Can you tell me more, I'm interested. And even if so, have they ever done that?
[QUOTE=itisjuly;45544103]They can? Can you tell me more, I'm interested. And even if so, have they ever done that?[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Android-Google-Applications-Android-Apps,news-7216.html[/url]
[QUOTE=AzzyMaster;45544187][url]http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Android-Google-Applications-Android-Apps,news-7216.html[/url][/QUOTE]
Holy shit. Is it limited to play store apps only or any app?
[QUOTE=itisjuly;45544231]Holy shit. Is it limited to play store apps only or any app?[/QUOTE]
As long as the google play service is installed they can do that.
Google Play doesn't have malware; it may have things that are unwanted and adware but the apps on it; once you uninstall them its taken care of unlike malware, and even if one somehow snook past the screening of the play store all it takes is a few reports to get it noticed
[QUOTE=Amiga OS;45544079]Theres no malware for Sailfish OS!
Hell we have under 100 apps on the store![/QUOTE]
sailfish OS has android app compatibility
[QUOTE=Map in a box;45545477]Google Play doesn't have malware; it may have things that are unwanted and adware but the apps on it; once you uninstall them its taken care of unlike malware, and even if one somehow snook past the screening of the play store all it takes is a few reports to get it noticed[/QUOTE]
Uninstalling apps is a pain in the ass on andriod
[QUOTE=meppers;45539916]if you don't download apps outside google play you won't need an antivirus at all :)[/QUOTE]
Because the play store isn't full of malware at all!
On that rip humble bundle, homebrew games, and any other form of independent creation.
People like you set a dangerous prescient
[QUOTE=Sally;45546966]Uninstalling apps is a pain in the ass on andriod[/QUOTE]
what how
[QUOTE=Map in a box;45547494]what how[/QUOTE]
Going to my settings then looking for the application manager to uninstall a shitty app I just installed is rather annoying when I have to do it over and over for other shitty apps that are almost identical.
You can just view app info by finding some context menu for the app to pull it up or I think kitkat(maybe? pretty sure earleir) has come out way to drag app from appdrawer and uninstall it from there
Yep, drag app into Uninstall and it uninstalls from drawer. Update your OS
[QUOTE=Sally;45547588]Going to my settings then looking for the application manager to uninstall a shitty app I just installed is rather annoying when I have to do it over and over for other shitty apps that are almost identical.[/QUOTE]
Well your launcher must be shit because I am using the stock Google launcher on my S3 and all I have to do is drag the app icon from my app drawer or home screen to the app info thing that pops up and it goes right to the uninstall page.
[QUOTE=Map in a box;45547640]You can just view app info by finding some context menu for the app to pull it up or I think kitkat(maybe? pretty sure earleir) has come out way to drag app from appdrawer and uninstall it from there[/QUOTE]
Pretty sure all the 4.x versions have had the app drawer uninstaller. I remember the N4 shipping with it, and that was on 4.2 at the time I think.
I'm sure most third party manufacturers have their own solutions too, god knows if they're any good.
[QUOTE=Rika-chan;45547677]Well your launcher must be shit because I am using the stock Google launcher on my S3 and all I have to do is drag the app icon from my app drawer or home screen to the app info thing that pops up and it goes right to the uninstall page.[/QUOTE]
I'd actually really dig a list where you can just hit uninstall on multiple apps quickly, with only a confirmation and no separate screens, for those times when I'm just removing a bunch of apps I don't want anymore. It'd be a bit faster and convenient.
[QUOTE=wewt!;45548418]I'd actually really dig a list where you can just hit uninstall on multiple apps quickly, with only a confirmation and no separate screens, for those times when I'm just removing a bunch of apps I don't want anymore. It'd be a bit faster and convenient.[/QUOTE]
I'm sure there's an app for that
Doh ho ho! looks like Apple is paying hackers to virus the competition! :smile:
I'm obligated to put /s for the sarcawstically impaired.
[QUOTE=meppers;45539916]if you don't download apps outside google play you won't need an antivirus at all :)[/QUOTE]
As far as I know google only check the apps when they are first uploaded, any updates aren't checked.
[QUOTE=wewt!;45548418]I'd actually really dig a list where you can just hit uninstall on multiple apps quickly, with only a confirmation and no separate screens, for those times when I'm just removing a bunch of apps I don't want anymore. It'd be a bit faster and convenient.[/QUOTE]
[url]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.droidware.uninstallmaster[/url]
If you have root it can also uninstall all the useless crap that came preinstalled on your device.
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