Android Nougat Takes on Mobile Ransomware
As Android ransomware continues to evolve, defenders are trying to keep pace. Most of the efforts to defeat ransomware have come through third-party security software and behavioral changes, but now Google is making a change to the next version of the mobile operating system to prevent a key part of some ransomware threats. One of […]
Android Malware Impersonates Google Play, WhatsApp
Overlay malware has emerged as one of the more pernicious threats on mobile devices, particularly Android phones, and researchers have now discovered a new SMS phishing campaign that uses overlay malware to steal credentials for mobile banking apps and messaging apps. The attackers behind the campaign are using a wide range of lures and a […]
Godless Malware Found in Play Store Roots Most Android Phones
Researchers have discovered a new class of mobile malware that has made its way into the Google Play store and is capable of completely compromising more than 90 percent of existing Android phones. The malware, which researchers at Trend Micro are calling Godless, contains a number of exploits for known Android vulnerabilities, some of which […]
What’s on TV Tonight? Ransomware
Security researchers have discovered a variant of the FLocker Android ransomware that not only infects mobile devices, but also can infect smart TVs running certain versions of the operating system. The FLocker ransomware has been active for more than a year now, and it is many ways a typical piece of mobile ransomware. It is […]
Clickjacking Bug Affects 95 Percent of Android Devices
Researchers have found that a vulnerability in Android that allows attackers to trick users into granting apps elevated privileges affects more devices than had originally been thought–nearly 96 percent of all Android devices. The vulnerability is not a typical bug. It relies on some user interaction and lies in the way that Android allows apps […]
FCC, FTC Demand Info From Carriers and Vendors on Security Updates
The FCC and FTC are demanding information from wireless carriers and device manufacturers on their processes for developing and deploying security updates, including whether carriers delay updates for operating systems with known vulnerabilities or stop offering patches for older versions of an OS. The letter from the FCC went to all of the major United […]
Old Android Bug Gives Attackers Access to Texts, Calls
There is an old, high-severity vulnerability in Android that could allow an attacker to gain access to a user’s SMS database and phone history. The bug has been in Android for at least five years and affects a huge number of Android devices. The vulnerability lies in a software package that Qualcomm maintains and it […]
Cyber.Police Android Malware Infects Without User Interaction
There is a new piece of ransomware that is using an exploit for an Android vulnerability to infect devices without any user interaction whatsoever. The Cyber.Police ransomware uses JavaScript to exploit the bug and one of the exploits it employs is a known one that’s been public for more than a year. Researchers at Zimperium […]
Google Report Shows 30% of Android Devices Don’t Get Regular Patches
A series of new security and privacy features added to Android in the last year have reduced the number of potentially harmful apps installed from Google Play by 40 percent, Google said in a new report on Android security. The company released its second annual Android Security Report on Tuesday, and there is a multitude […]