News in the Mobile category

Charger Android Ransomware Reaches Google Play Store

Google has removed an app from the Play Store that contained a new Android ransomware family named Charger.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 25, 2017
- 08:05 AM
- 0
HummingBad Android Malware Found in 20 Google Play Store Apps

HummingBad, an Android malware estimated to have touched over 85 million devices worldwide, was recently found in 46 new applications, 20 of which had even made their way into the official Play Store, passing Google's security checks.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 24, 2017
- 06:05 AM
- 0
Android Banking Trojan Source Code Leaked Online, Leads to New Variation Right Away

The source code of an unnamed Android banking trojan has been recently leaked online via an underground hacking forum, say researchers from security firm Dr.Web.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 21, 2017
- 08:25 PM
- 0
Popular Meitu App Caught Collecting User Data and Sending It to Servers in China

Security researchers have discovered that a very popular photo retouching iOS and Android application is collecting user data and sending it for storage to servers in China.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 20, 2017
- 01:55 PM
- 2
Android Ransomware Locks Phone and Asks for Credit Card Number

A new ransomware family is targeting Android devices, locking access to the screen, and constantly pestering the user to enter his payment card details.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 19, 2017
- 12:31 PM
- 0
Android Apps Caught Stealing Instagram Passwords for Turkish Users

Mobile security experts with Intel Security (McAfee) have discovered a rash of Android apps available through the Google Play Store that were stealing Instagram credentials and uploading the data to a remote server.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 16, 2017
- 05:35 AM
- 0
Researcher: WhatsApp Bug Exposes Encrypted Messages

Security researcher Tobias Boelter has discovered a bug in the encrypted communications system used by WhatsApp that allows a determined third-party actor, possibly Facebook, to intercept encrypted messages.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 13, 2017
- 02:22 PM
- 1
Google Patches Security Holes in Android Bootloader for Nexus Devices

Google's automated over-the-air (OTA) update system has plugged a "high-risk" vulnerability that affected the Android bootloader on Nexus smartphones.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 06, 2017
- 06:10 PM
- 0
Google Fixes User Tracking Issue in Pixel Smartphones

Google engineers have addressed a serious user privacy bug that affected only versions of the Android operating system installed on the company's latest line of Pixel smartphones.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- January 01, 2017
- 05:35 AM
- 0
Switcher Android Malware Hacks TP-Link Routers, Changes DNS Settings

An Android trojan named Switcher (Trojan.AndroidOS.Switcher) targets Android devices in order to take over local WiFi routers and hijack the web traffic passing through them.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- December 28, 2016
- 08:20 AM
- 0
Adups Backdoor Found in Latest Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet

Barnes & Noble has joined the list of Android device vendors who sold smartphones and tablets affected by the Adups backdoor.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- December 27, 2016
- 11:10 AM
- 0
It's Now Commonplace for Android Banking Trojans to Include Ransomware Features

The current generation of Android banking trojans are all equipped with ransomware-like features in order to lock the user's device, and in some cases encrypt his data.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- December 19, 2016
- 09:15 AM
- 0
Android Adups Backdoor Became Active 5 Months, Affected 43 Phone Vendors

The backdoor found in the firmware of various low-end Android smartphones, which was traced back to a Chinese company, was active since July this year, according to mobile security firm Trustlook.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- December 16, 2016
- 09:20 AM
- 0
Tordow Android Trojan Roots Devices, Steals Photos, Contacts, Chrome Database

Comodo security researchers have spotted version 2.0 of a deadly Android trojan named Tordow, which first came to light in February this year.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- December 15, 2016
- 04:10 PM
- 2
Google Shrinks Android App Update Size by 65%

Google engineers have found a way to shrink the size of Android app updates once again, revealing that a new technology they've recently started deploying has allowed them to cut down the size of app update packages with 65% on average when compared to the original app APK file.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- December 07, 2016
- 05:00 AM
- 0
PluginPhantom Android Malware Uses Novel Approach to Hide Malicious Behavior

Security researchers have discovered a new Android trojan that uses the DroidPlugin framework to split malicious behavior across multiple plugins, making detection much harder.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- November 30, 2016
- 07:30 PM
- 0
Android Malware Whitelists Itself to Stay Active While Your Phone Sleeps

An Android banking trojan is requesting users to whitelist its process against the Android Doze power saving module in order to stay connected to its command and control (C&C) servers and continue its malicious behavior.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- November 21, 2016
- 07:10 AM
- 0
Second Chinese Firm in a Week Found Hiding Backdoor in Firmware of Android Devices

Security researchers have discovered that third-party firmware included with over 2.8 million low-end Android smartphones allows attackers to compromise Over-the-Air (OTA) update operations and execute commands on the target's phone with root privileges.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- November 19, 2016
- 04:30 AM
- 0
New Android Spyware Targeting Governments Found Originating from Italy

Researchers from Red Naga Security have discovered new Android spyware that was used to target government employees, which initially appeared to be tied to the HackingTeam, but might very well be the work of a fellow Italian company, also a maker of surveillance software.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- November 17, 2016
- 06:30 AM
- 0
Secret Backdoor in Some Low-Priced Android Phones Sent Data to a Server in China

Security researchers have found a secret backdoor in the firmware of many Android smartphones sold in the US, which covertly gathers information on phone owners and sends it to a server in China.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- November 15, 2016
- 06:20 PM
- 2