Almost Half of Mobile Malware Are Hidden Apps (techrepublic.com) 27
Certain apps are hiding themselves and stealing resources and data from mobile devices, according to a new report by security firm McAfee. From a report: This is a growing threat comprising almost half of all malicious mobile malware, and a 30% increase from 2018, said Raj Samani, chief scientist and McAfee fellow, who authored the Q1 2020 McAfee Mobile Threat Report. "This shows where the focus from criminals [is] on the mobile platform, which is in stark contrast to non-mobile malware,'' Samani said. A new malware family called LeifAccess or Shopper is taking advantage of the accessibility features in Android to create accounts, download apps, and post reviews, according to the report. LeifAccess, "is a broad campaign [and] is using alternate methods to achieve installation but thereafter trying to achieve legitimacy to the user with fake warnings," Samani said. For example, LeifAccess does not create an icon or shortcut, "so it's not immediately obvious that the app is installed ... but for some of the hidden apps within the report, malicious mobile attacks will even masquerade as a legitimate app," he said.
Android (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Security is a joke on both of them, but at least I own my androids just a little bit more than I own my apples. But even that is not saying much either.
No matter where you turn, it's pick your poison and pay up like the little bitches we all are!
Re:Android (Score:5, Interesting)
A device is only as secure as the person using it. That doesn't bode well for the security of any device. Just about any operating system trades off security for convenience, and when you have a wide market, there tends to be a ton of those tradeoffs.
For example, the first iOS on the first iPhone was probably the most secure; there weren't apps.
Re: (Score:3)
For example, the first iOS on the first iPhone was probably the most secure; there weren't apps.
Blackberry devices were known for offering secure options (such as models without cameras), as well as remaining secure even with apps. It fit particularly well in the business world. Or at least until the primadonnas started demanding fashion trinkets instead.
Decent security can exist. You merely have to want it. Apple prefers to placate to the masses that prioritize bezel color options and a healthy emoji catalog. You know, the important shit for narcissists to operate in the 21st Century world of fa
Re: (Score:3)
Apple prefers to placate to the masses that prioritize bezel color options and a healthy emoji catalog. You know, the important shit for narcissists to operate in the 21st Century world of fake reality.
It's a phone my good man, not a way of life. I use Apple products because the are more secure, and everything integrates nicely.
What's your point anyhow? That this story is fake news, and Androids are the last word in security, since Apple is only catering to narcissists? We need more input.
You want obnoxious? Try being around an Android uber alles sycophant. I own a few Android devices as well, so some of the crew think I'm in the anti-apple fold.
It's a phone. It's a tablet.
Re: (Score:2)
Blackberry devices were known for offering secure options (such as models without cameras), as well as remaining secure even with apps.
Decent security can exist. You merely have to want it.
Blackberry indeed. Where are they now? The market spoke.
Re: (Score:2)
Blackberry devices were known for offering secure options (such as models without cameras), as well as remaining secure even with apps.
Decent security can exist. You merely have to want it.
Blackberry indeed. Where are they now? The market spoke.
Your "smart" phone can be easily operated by a 5-year old, and can be hacked by a 10-year old. These things we carry around daily that never leave our physical person are considered spyware before it ever leaves the factory.
Just because the idiot-proof market "spoke", doesn't mean we're better off for it today. That's rather obvious as we sit here talking about the app-addicted masses and their unique ability to mass-distribute malware repeatedly.
Re: (Score:2)
I used to use Android. Yes it is nice to know you can jail break it, and run anything you wish, but I write software for a living, and ... a bit like the plumber who never fixes the dripping faucet, I kind-of don't want to program my phone... I just want to use it as a tool. We all should remember that there is always someone more clever than us, and if we can break into it, so can the bad guy. The other thing to remember is that Apple is in the business of selling us hardware. Google is in the busines
We should be able to install the latest Android. (Score:3)
Re:We should be able to install the latest Android (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
I think the more important part is finding a way to patch only portions of the OS for security reasons rather than needing a full update to affect any changes. OS updates themselves tend to be a death knell to hardware as they add more bloat in each major release that slow down hardware significantly without necessarily adding a proportional amount of gains.
Re: (Score:2)
Half the time, those Google reCAPTCHA puzzles never end. They just keep showing more and more new stupid "challenges" for me to sit there like a monkey and click, click and click until the end of time or I eventually give up, kill the tab and forget about doing any of the basic tasks that no longer can be done in the dystopian surveillance nightmare that the Internet has turned into.
Tip: Cross your eyes slightly so you can answer the same was as the average idiot, because the pictures are not classified by hand and so things that are technically in the photo, but blurry in the distance, don't count. It isn't a vision test, it is a normal test.
Android Malware (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't understand why these articles say "mobile malware" rather than "Android malware". Most of the time they only affect Android and/or they make no comment about iOS.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
I don't understand why these articles say "mobile malware" rather than "Android malware". Most of the time they only affect Android and/or they make no comment about iOS.
They don't want to insult the hardcore Android fans. Notice above how some folks shifted the topic to iPhones? This is definitely an Android issue, not an iPhone issue
Re: (Score:2)
In most countries other than the United States, Android as a whole has a commanding lead over iOS.
Luckily Google has AI dealing with it (Score:2)
you have no idea how much malware doesn't show up in the app store.
Re: (Score:2)
At the same time, how many apps do people actually install randomly from the app store or google play? It's pretty easy to tell via number of downloads or a google search whether an app is legit or not. It's not easy to get infected unless you are really dumb about it.
Re: (Score:3)
At the same time, how many apps do people actually install randomly from the app store or google play? It's pretty easy to tell via number of downloads or a google search whether an app is legit or not. It's not easy to get infected unless you are really dumb about it.
Well, I'm still wondering why my flashlight app needs access to my email. But there must be a good reason, so I'll allow it
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
How many people pirate? You know, copyright infringement, that varies from copying commercial software around, to downloading movies, TV shows, and music.
Smartphone apps are pirated as well - that $5 game you see on the play store? Well, you c
Mobile Security Is A Bigger Problem (Score:2)
It is too easy to become prey to partisan views on this: I recall that iOS users once felt more confident because they were told that Apple had a "screening process" for Apps before they were permitted in the App store (as opposed to the more relaxed ru