URGENT: Possible Virus Threat!

[Killyouridols]

New Android app collects data. Sends Premium Texts

As above, Not Strictly Desire Related, but Note worthy None the less... Even if it helps 1 person its worth it


KYI

 

[diS]

There has also been a report of a possible trojan that sends premium SMS messages without you knowing untill you get your phone bill.

But then again, if you don't go to random sites and download .apk files that don't look right you won't encounter a single virus.

Just check what permissions the app needs and you can see if it's a virus or not.

ie. a music player app that wants permission to use messaging is something you have to find suspisios. Or if you downloaded the .apk from a different site and not the market and the file is only 17kb...

 

[Killyouridols]

Just check what permissions the app needs and you can see if it's a virus or not.

ie. a music player app that wants permission to use messaging is something you have to find suspisios. Or if you downloaded the .apk from a different site and not the market and the file is only 17kb...

Spot on. I saw a rather crudily put together app the other day on the market that was, simply, a text based reference app. On closer inspection it wanted, Amongst other things, to read and intercept phone calls and access to dialer; Particularly odd for the type of app it was pertaining to be.

Needless to say that was a no-go....


KYI

 

[Nathan Baxter]

How to Geek commented on this virus earlier: Twitter / Lowell @ How-To Geek: Android "Trojan" story is ...

Then followed up with a more devastating issue Android users may be unaware of: Twitter / Lowell @ How-To Geek: I'd like to announce a new ...

diS' advice covers it really...read & think before installing

Never hurts to post warnings tho.

 

[Killyouridols]

How to Geek commented on this virus earlier: Twitter / Lowell @ How-To Geek: Android "Trojan" story is ...

Then followed up with a more devastating issue Android users may be unaware of: Twitter / Lowell @ How-To Geek: I'd like to announce a new ...

diS' advice covers it really...read & think before installing

Never hurts to post warnings tho.

Gotta be careful of those Hammers

But Yeah, if I over-reacted, so be it. Apologies if i seem a bit jumpy! I'm not into Scaremongering, but I know not everyone on this forum is equally adept when it comes to how Android works (I'm sure some don't even read the permissions when Installing) just thought a small fore-warning might be of help to some

KYI (Not Paranoid, but you are looking at me funny )

 

[Nathan Baxter]

...But Yeah, if I over-reacted, so be it. Apologies if i seem a bit jumpy! I'm not into Scaremongering, but I know not everyone on this forum is equally adept when it comes to how Android works (I'm sure some don't even read the permissions when Installing) just thought a small fore-warning might be of help to some

KYI (Not Paranoid, but you are looking at me funny )

Sincere apologies if I came across like I was belittling your warning. It wasn't intentional. The 'read & think' bit is one of those statements that seems obvious in hindsight only when you've got the experience to translate the list of permissions & understand their relevance. The more people are made aware of stuff, the better.

Really just wanted to add the rather funny hammer tweet I'd seen earlier which I took as a being a way of defusing the common media practice of seeing an issue & clothing it in an end-of-the-world-doom-we're-all-gonna-die-horribly coating to sell more copy (as it will probably turn out to be used). Otherwise I'd just have read & moved on.

Always important people are aware of potential problems...consider me suitably chastised.

Also, I'm about as adept with how Android works as a fish is with a bicycle

 

[Killyouridols]

Sincere apologies if I came across like I was belittling your warning. It wasn't intentional. The 'read & think' bit is one of those statements that seems obvious in hindsight only when you've got the experience to translate the list of permissions & understand their relevance. The more people are made aware of stuff, the better.

Really just wanted to add the rather funny hammer tweet I'd seen earlier which I took as a being a way of defusing the common media practice of seeing an issue & clothing it in an end-of-the-world-doom-we're-all-gonna-die-horribly coating to sell more copy (as it will probably turn out to be used). Otherwise I'd just have read & moved on.

Always important people are aware of potential problems...consider me suitably chastised.

Also, I'm about as adept with how Android works as a fish is with a bicycle

Oh god, No, I Didn't see you as Belittling my Warning, same as that I was serious when I mentioned that I was sorry if I "jumped the gun" with posting this. Your Tweets and Subsequent links to other websites show that I probably was a bit premature. Certainly no attempt to Chastise you Nathan.

Put this down to another case of "Emotions-and-tone-are-hard-to-get-across-on-the-interweb"

KYI (A Nice person, Really!)

 

[speedycolzalez]

Seems there may actually be a real threat...

First SMS Trojan for Android is in the wild ? The Register

If you're daft enough to install it.

 

[Killyouridols]

Seems there may actually be a real threat...

First SMS Trojan for Android is in the wild ? The Register

If you're daft enough to install it.

Yeah, thats the one orignally linked to in my first post. I always have my 'Unknown Sources' box unchecked, I'm would Imagine most people do have. Might have to rethink that, bearing in mind Im sure a market app could easily connect to the web and download a package but could it be installed without a prompt?

Suprised it has taken so long TBH to see one of these Mainstream...


KYI (Unticking all the right boxes!)

 

[speedycolzalez]

Oh, sorry. I thought you were talking about the one the BBC cobbled together (that'll teach me to only hover over the link)

Off to uncheck the unknown sources box

 

[Killyouridols]

Oh, sorry. I thought you were talking about the one the BBC cobbled together (that'll teach me to only hover over the link)

Off to uncheck the unknown sources box

Yeah sorry, It wasn't overly Clear. Have Edited it for Clarity.


KYI

 

[benchmark]

In a security advisory Kaspersky said that the fake media player was most prevalent among Russian Android users. The risk to Android owners worldwide is believed to be low.

Thanks for the heads up .

I always maintain that the best security you can have is the brain that controls the phone, if you install app randomly without checking what permissions they require and do not read the ratings and comments from previous users then you have yourself to blame if this happens. I only install apps that are absolutely useful, have relevant permissions as regards to thier functions , decent reviews/ratings and are used by many people.
The same rules as regards installing materials to a PC also apply to the android device.