Android Malware Intercepts Text Messages, Forwards To Criminals 137
An anonymous reader writes "A new piece of Android malware has been discovered that can intercept your incoming text messages and forward them on to criminals. Once installed, the trojan can be used to steal sensitive messages for blackmailing purposes or more directly, codes which are used to confirm online banking transactions. The malware in question, detected as "Android.Pincer.2.origin" by Russian security firm Doctor Web, is the second iteration of the Android.Pincer family according to the company. Both threats spread as security certificates, meaning they must be deliberately installed onto an Android device by a careless user."
Re:Is this really news? (Score:4, Informative)
Yep, it's another AV vendor beat-up.
"The Australian Communications and Media Authority has published detailed statistics of malware infections identified by their online security team (AISI). The team scans and identifies and compromised computers on Australian IP addresses and reports daily to around 130 participating ISPs.
Their breakdown shows about infected 16,500 devices are online at any one time. The malware type for all infections is available on the site."
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD..PC/pc=PC_600121 [acma.gov.au]
If you look at the breakdown of malware infected IPs, there are around 16,500 active infections at any one time. Around 20 Windows viruses make up more than 99% of all infections. In the "Other" section, there are around 100 active IPs with rarer Windows viruses, and Mac, iOS, Linux and Android infections.
In other words, the total of all Android malware is competing with space in the fraction of 1% of malware instances that aren't on Windows.
Re:This is why I hate Android (Score:2, Informative)
If the platform is so safe, why does Apple have to review and sign every app before it's allowed to run? There's no need to do that if your platform is free of exploits.
Re:Is this really news? (Score:5, Informative)
I have moved apps to external sd cards, my devices don't boot loop...
The problem with android (and this problem occurs on windows as well to a lesser extent) is all the oems/carriers that think they know best and put out heavily kludged versions, introducing all manner of bugs and breaking standard functionality.
As for background apps, android *allows* background apps because such a feature is useful for users... You just have to choose background apps which are well written. Don't blame the os for shoddy applications.