“At least 10 million Android devices have been infected by malware called HummingBad, according to cybersecurity software maker Check Point,” Daniel Van Boom reports for CNET.
“The malware installs a piece of software called a rootkit onto infected Android devices, giving cybercriminals administrative-level access to smartphones,” Van Boom reports. “This access is used to generate fraudulent advertising revenue — apparently up to $300,000 per month — through the forced downloading of apps and clicking of ads.”
Van Boom reports, “But it’s not just fake ad revenue at stake here because the group is able to sell access to phones and give away information held on them, Check Point said.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Those infected should’ve bought a real iPhone.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s revolutionary iPhone is nine years old – and still no significant malware outbreaks – June 29, 2016
Android malware hits Aussie bank customers, iOS users unaffected – March 10, 2016
Android malware steals one-time passcodes, a crucial defense for online banking – January 14, 2016
New Android malware is so bad, you’d better off buying a new phone – November 6, 2015
Apple issues iPhone manifesto; blasts Android’s lack of updates, lack of privacy, rampant malware – August 10, 2015
New Android malware strains to top 2 million by end of 2015 – July 1, 2015
Symantec: 1 in 5 Android apps is malware – April 25, 2015
Kaspersky Lab Director: Over 98% of mobile malware targets Android because it’s much, much easier to exploit than iOS – January 15, 2015
Security experts: Malware spreading to millions on Android phones – November 21, 2014
There’s practically no iOS malware, thanks to Apple’s smart control over app distribution – June 13, 2014
F-Secure: Android accounted for 99% of new mobile malware in Q1 2014 – April 30, 2014
Google’s Sundar Pichai: Android not designed to be safe; if I wrote malware, I’d target Android, too – February 27, 2014
Cisco: Android the target of 99 percent of world’s mobile malware – January 17, 2014
U.S. DHS, FBI warn of malware threats to Android mobile devices – August 27, 2013
Android app malware rates skyrocket 40 percent in last quarter – August 7, 2013
First malware found in wild that exploits Android app signing flaw – July 25, 2013
Mobile Threats Report: Android accounts for 92% of all mobile malware – June 26, 2013
Latest self-replicating Android Trojan looks and acts just like Windows malware – June 7, 2013
99.9% of new mobile malware targets Android phones – May 30, 2013
Mobile malware exploding, but only for Android – May 14, 2013
Mobile malware: Android is a bad apple – April 15, 2013
F-Secure: Android accounted for 96% of all mobile malware in Q4 2012 – March 7, 2013
New malware attacks Android phones, Windows PCs to eavesdrop, steal data; iPhone, Mac users unaffected – February 4, 2013
who says there is no money to be made in Android
I know it’s not the same, but it’s ironic that when I tried to read this article I got sent to the App Store twice from one of the charming ads on this site.
This is no longer news.
It is a “Given.”
Even worse yet, I worry that Chinese “chips” contain hardware backdoors for the Communist Party Hackers to access.
Android doesn’t care about security. It lets phones become infected so that more personal user information is leaked to the NSA servers run by google. As far as they’re concerned, every infected android phone is another win-win situation that needs to be capitalised on.
Funny, 100% of iPhones have this malware that prevents me from shopping for Apps wherever I want….
The reason being that those Apps are infected. And why would anyone WANT to go to those stores these days. Not feeling the need to jailbreak my phone anymore.
Funny…you knowingly purchased that iPhone with that so-called “malware.” Not the same thing at all.
Actually, no I didn’t. I had one before there was even an App Store. My last personal iPgone was the 3GS, whereby I didn’t give Apple a dime again until last year. There were other reasons too.
Emulators are the only reason I’d jailbreak now. Playing Soul Caliber Broken Destiny on my phone? Yes.
… So of course #MyStupidGovernment just approved the use of Android devices for government work. Good gawd. (0_o)
Here China: Just take it ALL. We surrender.
Obviously not many here (MDN included) have read the article until the end.
For the lazy ones… Here’s the last paragraph:
Malware has done considerable damage to mobile platforms over the past year. Apple, previously known for being virus and malware-proof, has been hit by multiple attacks, including some perpetrated by the same group behind HummingBad, according to Check Point.
With the two following links that were clickable on keywords:
http://www.cnet.com/news/new-ios-malware-making-the-rounds-in-china-and-taiwan/
http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-mobile-devices-under-threat-from-new-acedeceiver-malware/
As it looks like… No platform is immune to malware.