AndroidMalware
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Verizon intros Mobile Security app for Android, wants to keep you safe
McAfee's been offering mobile protection services on Android for a while now, but Verizon's taking it a step further and bringing an application tailored specifically for its own customers with help from the Intel-owned outfit. The Mobile Security app -- which is also powered by Asurion -- aims to assist the Big Red crowd by protecting their devices from many "digital and physical threats," giving Android (2.1 or later) users the ability to lock, set up alarms, wipe data and locate handsets remotely. As it stands, Verizon's splitting the Mobile Security utility into three different setups, including a free-of-charge Basic, the Premium for $2 per month and, for those who want to be extra careful, a Premium with Total Equipment Coverage that adds a $1 monthly charge to the current TEC fees. We'll let your levels of paranoia decide whether or not you actually need any of these -- but alas, the link is down below for folks interested in checking out the shielding app.
Mobile security researchers present Android Malware Genome Project at IEEE
Android's openness, combined with its popularity, has lead a few of the developer faithful astray -- with malware being a legitimate concern for the mobile operating system. To help combat the issue, Xuxian Jiang, an NC State researcher, has created the Android Malware Genome Project, which was presented at the IEEE Symposium on Security this week. The aim is to collect and analyse all the known malicious software, and share the findings so that more effective and preventative measures to be taken by the community. Jiang claims that the main drawback has been understanding the malware, and getting access to examples, something the project aims to solve. More than 1,200 malware samples have been collected so far, and if you're curious, the dataset is available for download via the source.
Google pulls Android Market malware that exploits SMS hole
Google's reportedly pulled 22 malicious apps after two security firms tipped them off that the malware was tricking users into sending SMS messages to premium-rate phone lines. Android.RuFraud poses as popular games like Angry Birds, Assassins Creed or Tetris and can affect users across Europe and Russia. Fortunately the apps are easily spotted and deleted, but were downloaded 14,000 times before being pulled -- so if you see anyone experiencing similar issues, you can let 'em know how to solve it.
Looking back at a year of Android Malware
Wow, has it really been a year a year since we first witnessed the arrival of SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a? It seems like only yesterday when everyone was first scrambling to describe the text message manipulating bit of Android malware. We've come along way and seen plenty of malicious bits of software since August 2010. Remember the porn-bundled SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.b trojan from October? Or how about the bible-packing Android.Smspacem? Relive all of the handset hijacking memories in the source link below.
