News in the Mobile category

Google Updates File Signature Checks for Android Apps

Google is changing how the Play Store app is verifying the authenticity of Android apps before installation. The company plans to modify the header of APK (Android app) files to include a new metadata field that contains the app's file signature.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- June 20, 2018
- 01:27 PM
- 0
Android App Devs Find Clever Trick for Fooling Users Into Installing Their Crapware

An expert in Android security is warning users that some developers of crappy Android apps have come up with a new trick for fooling users into installing their apps.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- June 16, 2018
- 03:56 AM
- 1
Tens of Thousands of Android Devices Are Exposing Their Debug Port

The security community raised the alarm regarding a serious issue last week —that of Android devices shipping with their debug port open to remote connections.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- June 11, 2018
- 04:27 AM
- 4
Users Discover One of the Weirdest Android Glitches Ever

For the past week, Android users have been having fun with one of the weirdest bugs ever seen on an Android device, one that exposes their personal SMS text messages when searching for various terms.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- June 01, 2018
- 10:52 AM
- 0
Google Adds New Firmware Integrity Protection System to Pixel Smartphones

Google has announced today a new security mechanism for Pixel 2 smartphones, for which, in the near future, it would be impossible to update or replace the phone's firmware without entering the user's password.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- June 01, 2018
- 12:20 AM
- 0
Hackers Increasingly Targeting Gas Stations & Credit Cards at the Pump

Three years ago it was revealed that Automatic tank gauges at approximately 5,000 US gas stations were exposed on the Internet, without password protection. Currently, according to a recent scan, 5,635 gas stations with the same vulnerability have been found.
- Candice Lanier
- May 30, 2018
- 02:26 PM
- 0
Malware Found in the Firmware of 141 Low-Cost Android Devices

Two years after being outted, a criminal operation that has been inserting malware in the firmware of low-cost Android devices is still up and running, and has even expanded its reach.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- May 25, 2018
- 01:00 AM
- 0
Phishing Roundup: Caracal, Stealth Mango, Tangelo, Apple, DHL, eFax & More

Phishing threats are currently targeting your credentials for Apple, Facebook, Gmail, and more. In this roundup we detail some of the current Phishing threats active on the Internet.
- Candice Lanier
- May 20, 2018
- 12:14 PM
- 0
The Facebook Android App Is Asking for Superuser Privileges and Users Are Freaking Out

The Facebook Android app is asking for superuser permissions, and a bunch of users are freaking out about granting the Facebook app full access to their device, an understandable reaction following the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- May 18, 2018
- 07:00 AM
- 3
Malicious Apps Get Back on the Play Store Just by Changing Their Name

Security researchers are reporting that malicious Android apps they have detected and reported to Google the first time, have slipped back into the Play Store after changing their name.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- May 11, 2018
- 06:50 AM
- 2
Google Accused of Showing ‘Total Contempt’ for Android Users’ Privacy

Joe Westby is Amnesty International's Technology and Human Rights researcher. Recently, in response to Google's launch of a new messaging service, Westby argued that Google, "shows total contempt for Android users' privacy."
- Candice Lanier
- April 23, 2018
- 02:11 PM
- 2
Google Enables Safe Browsing Support in Android's WebView Browser

Google announced earlier this week plans to enable Safe Browsing support for the Android WebView component, a stripped-down browser that comes with all Android versions.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- April 20, 2018
- 01:00 AM
- 1
More Than Half of Android Apps for Kids Are Violating US Privacy Laws

Privacy experts have analyzed 5,855 child-directed Android apps and have found that more than half —57%— are potentially violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a US law protecting children's private data online.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- April 16, 2018
- 05:55 PM
- 2
Researchers Catch Android OEMs Lying About Security Patches

A large number of Android manufacturers (OEMs) are skipping security patches but are lying to users about it, according to the team at Security Research Lab (SRL), a Berlin-based cyber-security firm.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- April 13, 2018
- 01:20 PM
- 9
HTTP Injector Apps Are Becoming a Popular Method to Obtain Free Internet Access

"HTTP injector" apps traded in public Telegram channels are becoming a popular method of gaining free Internet access on mobile devices.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- April 10, 2018
- 01:10 AM
- 0
Android Trojan Steals Data From Facebook Messenger, Skype, Other IM Clients

Security researchers have found a new Android malware strain that has been designed to steal data from mobile instant messaging clients.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- April 03, 2018
- 12:20 AM
- 0
Android Monero-Mining Malware Can Cause Device Failure

Trend Micro security experts have warned users today about a new type of Android malware that infects devices and untetheredly mines Monero in the phone's background until the battery is exhausted or the device gives out.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- March 28, 2018
- 12:50 PM
- 1
HiddnAd and Guerilla Adware Removed From the Google Play Store

Google security staffers have removed 22 Android apps reported to have been infected with the HiddnAd and Guerilla adware families.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- March 26, 2018
- 11:48 AM
- 0
Android Malware Intercepts Phone Calls to Connect Banking Users to Scammers

A new variant of the FakeBank Android malware includes the ability to intercept phone calls victims are making to their banks, and redirecting users to scammers.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- March 16, 2018
- 05:43 PM
- 2
A List of New Features Arriving in Android P

A summary of all the new features Google announced last night for Android P (Android 9.x) —the next major version of the Android operating system that is expected to be released in August-September this year.
- Catalin Cimpanu
- March 08, 2018
- 07:23 AM
- 0