gloriousnumber1

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook. Credit to her, because she and her family all use the fruit company. I believe she wants to help everyone else like us who use Android.

Android storm warning « Dave Waterson on Security

What do you all think of this?

It's not that long, so I suggest reading before commenting.

The simple points are that mobile security threats to Android phones are supposed to get really intense.

Google hasn't been able to stop it through updates, and anti-virus and anti-malware apps don't do a good job to stop it.

So is this another "Y2K"? Is this guy the Al Gore of mobile security who is being an alarmist?

IS this ALL true? I'm sure those things exist. Question is, are they really so widespread and are people who are careful and don't download unknown things, etc pretty much safe?

I don't know the best place to ask this so here goes!

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RyanB

I think the concern is overblown. First, Apple has malware problems too. Second, Google is working on having scanning done both server side, as well as client side. Third, Google has made it son you need ton see what permissions the app needs BEFORE you install it. If you find a wallpaper that wants access to your contacts as well as the internet, that alone should scare you off. The more users think critically about the apps they install on Android, the harder it will be for malware to bet around.

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CodeMonkey

Is it ALL true? No.

The biggest threat area for Android users is sideloading apps or downloading from third party app stores that have a high tolerance of cracked / copied apps.
Typically this article (as with most other articles from people involved in the antivirus / security software industry) neglects to mention this.
Its also worth noting that some of the threat areas he lists are not just currently demonstrable on Android alone.
As always with IT the onus is on the user to consider the app, it's author and the permissions it requests before completing the install.

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golpe

I believe that we have an issue that has to be solved. Although I believe the articke is a list of all possible ind impossible threats an I suspect that fruit advocates insert messages into our forum which are invented, we need a good solution for the malware problem. Google must provide a certification of programs so that antivirus programs are correct, not fakes and do not hsrm our systems.

When I look at the fruit forums, I am astonished that it does not contain problems about failures of the operating system. They all have beeen removed. So the comparison pictures between iPad and Galaxy Tab. Only the raw text remained...

Regards Golpe

gtbarry

Please inform your friend that apple like ALL operating systems is vulnerable to attack.

For years apple has buried its head in the sand and pretended that if they ignore malware it will go away. Their attitude of "security through obscurity" when they were single-digit marketshare on the desktop simply created an aura of ignorance and the pretense of invulnerability.

ZDNET: apple continues to pretend there is no problem
Kaspersky denied iOS app: Apple buries its head in the security sand | ZDNet

Forbes: all of apple is vulnerable.
Yes, Apple's Machines Really Can Get Viruses - Forbes

PCWorld: Even apple doesn't claim to be 100% immune anymore
Apple Quietly Pulls Claims of Virus Immunity | PCWorld


Or better yet read in Wired how: "according to Apple’s tech support records, someone called AppleCare claiming to be me. Apple says the caller reported that he couldn’t get into his Me.com e-mail — which, of course was my Me.com e-mail.

In response, Apple issued a temporary password. It did this despite the caller’s inability to answer security questions I had set up. And it did this after the hacker supplied only two pieces of information that anyone with an internet connection and a phone can discover."
How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

kct1975

I actually read that last article a couple of months ago.

I hope that makes the Apple Fans get off of their arrogant stance....

"Oh...computer virus don't happen to me...I have a Mac"

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