Evil Android

[Octane70]

There’s a new threat in town. And by town, I mean China. Malware authors have created a bit of code called Geinimi that hitchhikes on existing apps when they are redistributed on third-party markets. At the moment it doesn’t do much but lurk, but its capabilities resemble that of a botnet server, according to Lookout, a company that makes antivirus software for Android.

So far the code has been identified as being able to send out your location, IMEI, app list, and to download apps. There could be more. Users outside of China are apparently at little risk, and at any rate your security is in your own hands: if you’re downloading a to-do list app and it wants access to your GPS and calling functions, that’s probably bogus.
Stay safe out there, kids.

Not to sure if this has been posted or not.

 

[tooter1]

This is very disturbing...anything to get info on people..

 

[Pancakes_Gio]

I don't install antiviruses on my phone,because android is based on linux, and linux doesn't have viruses because of the strong kernel, plus its semi possible that you will have a virus on your phone.:thumbup:

Sent from my GT-S5660 using xda premium

 

[mistermentality]

There’s a new threat in town. And by town, I mean China. Malware authors have created a bit of code called Geinimi that hitchhikes on existing apps when they are redistributed on third-party markets. At the moment it doesn’t do much but lurk, but its capabilities resemble that of a botnet server, according to Lookout, a company that makes antivirus software for Android.

So far the code has been identified as being able to send out your location, IMEI, app list, and to download apps. There could be more. Users outside of China are apparently at little risk, and at any rate your security is in your own hands: if you’re downloading a to-do list app and it wants access to your GPS and calling functions, that’s probably bogus.
Stay safe out there, kids.

Not to sure if this has been posted or not.

Its not a new threat, lookouts announcement of it was in 2010 and in 2011 it was picked up by more press but is actually a two year old threat which afaik never did cause any problems but is checked for by google and therefore probably other app distributors.

Dave

( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )

Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

 

[Nate2]

I hear Android 5 (JellyBean) includes some kind of in-built malware protection.
Gotta wonder why...

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[mistermentality]

I hear Android 5 (JellyBean) includes some kind of in-built malware protection.
Gotta wonder why...

Sent from my unrooted DroidX using Tapatalk

Not heard that, would be surprised if it did as google use bouncer to combat the malware problem.

Dave

( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )

Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

 

[z33dev33l]

I don't install antiviruses on my phone,because android is based on linux, and linux doesn't have viruses because of the strong kernel, plus its semi possible that you will have a virus on your phone.:thumbup:

Sent from my GT-S5660 using xda premium

Wrong in many ways, it doesn't have viruses because the market is next to non-existent and getting a virus on an android device is more and more common.

 

[alpha-niner64]

Welp, as they say. Only install from trusted sources and always check the permissions the apps ask for. If you don't want the risk, go buy an Apple product and play by their rules. These are the risks that open-source brings and one that all of us bears in mind when tinkering with such power.

 

[mistermentality]

Wrong in many ways, it doesn't have viruses because the market is next to non-existent and getting a virus on an android device is more and more common.

Actually linux does have them, see http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_malware for some examples.

Linux has few simply because it tends to get patched quicker. Malware on android devices will increase more this year as its the most used mobile os and so offers more potential victims which makes it a more enticing prospect for hackers.

Dave

( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )

Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

 

[z33dev33l]

That and there's no real security built-in to android and it's the easiest one to pirate apps on. I personally believe the people trying to get the apps free deserve the viruses though. Does the patching have to do with the Linux distro or the kernel? Serious question as I know little about Linux malware and only briefly used Linux.

 

[rockstarar]

i know kernels get patched, i think distros do as well.

 

[thebobp]

If you don't want the risk, go buy an Apple product

You're joking, right? TLDR: How do you think jailbreaking is possible if Apple is so secure? Indeed, it's the false confidence that comes from them telling users that it's so secure that's precipitated so many of the blunders.

 

[mistermentality]

That and there's no real security built-in to android and it's the easiest one to pirate apps on. I personally believe the people trying to get the apps free deserve the viruses though. Does the patching have to do with the Linux distro or the kernel? Serious question as I know little about Linux malware and only briefly used Linux.

Kernel gets updated with patches but individual distributions also get system patches or did a few years ago when I last used linux.

I'm curious why you think there's no security built into android, as can be seen at http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/security/security.html there are a number of security measures in place.

Dave

( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )

Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

 

[mossman44]

Use your brain for security

All the android malware reports I have ever read are just scare tactics used by various news agencys, blogs, etc to generate more views for their site. Almost all android malware can be avoided by simply being smart with where and what you download. Using iOS doesn't make you safe; downloading well known apps from the play store that only use permissions that are appropriate for its described functionality makes you safe.

 

[Ashmere69]

That and there's no real security built-in to android and it's the easiest one to pirate apps on. I personally believe the people trying to get the apps free deserve the viruses though.

I agree 120% with you, cheating people's hard work will get you burnt!

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[d_freshmaker]

I agree 120% with you, cheating people's hard work will get you burnt!

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510b using xda premium

Exactly. Buy the app and you don't have to worry about it. Besides, it's not like these apps are fifty bucks each. Pay a couple of dollars and support the ecosyste

 

[xthemastax]

I think some of the real culprits to an evil Android is self-awareness on the handset, they always seem to delete and corrupt your stuff before you know it, but yeah, bootlegs are not good at all.

 

[Gh05tly]

There’s a new threat in town. And by town, I mean China. Malware authors have created a bit of code called Geinimi that hitchhikes on existing apps when they are redistributed on third-party markets. At the moment it doesn’t do much but lurk, but its capabilities resemble that of a botnet server, according to Lookout, a company that makes antivirus software for Android.

So far the code has been identified as being able to send out your location, IMEI, app list, and to download apps. There could be more. Users outside of China are apparently at little risk, and at any rate your security is in your own hands: if you’re downloading a to-do list app and it wants access to your GPS and calling functions, that’s probably bogus.
Stay safe out there, kids.

Not to sure if this has been posted or not.

Eek!

 

[L33t Masta]

iPhone doesn't have this problem...

 

[zelendel]

iPhone doesn't have this problem...

Think again.

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