“The largest-ever Android malware campaign may have duped as many as 5 million users into downloading infected apps from Google’s Android Market, Symantec said today,” Gregg Keizer reports for Computerworld.
“Dubbed “Android.Counterclank” by Symantec, the malware was packaged in 13 different apps from three different publishers, with titles ranging from ‘Sexy Girls Puzzle’ to ‘Counter Strike Ground Force,'” Keizer reports. “Many of the infected apps were still available on the Android Market as of 3 p.m. ET Friday.”
Keizer reports, “Android.Counterclank is a Trojan horse that when installed on an Android smartphone collects a wide range of information, including copies of the bookmarks and the handset maker. It also modifies the browser’s home page. The hackers have monetized the malware by pushing unwanted advertisements to compromised Android phones.”
“Some of the 13 apps that Symantec identified as infected have been on the Android Market for at least a month, according to the revision dates posted on the e-store,” Keizer reports. “Symantec, however, discovered them only yesterday.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As with personal computers, smartphones are like condoms. If you settle for second-rate, you run the risk of infection.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “James M. Gross” for the heads up.]
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Insecure: Malicious Android apps double in six months – December 14, 2011
Android permissions flaw allows eavesdropping, data theft, location tracking – December 2, 2011
You bank on your pretend iPhone? Are you nuts?! Android malware up 472% since July – November 16, 2011
Android security threats surge with infected ‘Angry Birds’; iPhone and iPad users unaffected – November 15, 2011
Apple’s iOS unaffected by malware as Android exploits surge 76% – August 24, 2011
McAfee: Google’s Android number one in malware – August 23, 2011
Android malware records phone calls; iPhone users unaffected – August 2, 2011
Symantec: Apple iOS offers ‘full protection,’ Google Android ‘little protection’ vs. malware attacks – June 29, 2011
Malware apps spoof Android Market to infect Android phones – June 21, 2011
Google forced to pull several malware-infested apps from Android market – June 8, 2011
Android malware sees explosive growth; even faster than with PCs – April 27, 2011
Virus-laden apps infest Google’s ‘open’ Android platform; iPhone unaffected – March 3, 2011
Security firm warns of new Android trojan that can steal personal information; iPhone unaffected – December 30, 2010
Trojan infects Android smartphones; iPhone unaffected – August 10, 2010
Millions of Android phone users slammed by malicious data theft app – July 29, 2010
Unlike proactive Apple, reactive Google doesn’t block malware from Android app store – June 4, 2010
Malware designed to steal bank information pops up in Google’s Android app store – January 11, 2010
Open is better. Open is better. Open is better.
Sing it with me.
But but but Android is open, customizable, has WIDGETS! 4G, Quad Core Processors etc etc !
And it wasn’t created by that evil Steve Jobs.
(even if it kinda was)
More like Open up your Arse real wide, because we’re about to deliver a payload that gonna be a pain in the arse! LOL
Could you imagine the field day the lazy — tech blogs would have if this where apple and not android?
And the result of not using a condom is a Swiss cheese brain full of spirochetes, and raving like a lunatic on MDN about bigger screens. You know, like BLN.
Not to mention the chance of creating little baby Androids.
Sad thing is- FanDroids are so “i hAtoRZ teh aPpLzeS” that they actually prefer having personal data stolen, credit cards hacked, loss of data, etc to owning an iPhone.
It’s true. Hatred makes you stupid
Pffft droidtards don`t use credit cards. Google supplies everything for FREE!!!!!
Even a proper rogering!!!
That is why people should wear a condom if they decide to hook up with Android
Somehow using a condom on an android phone just plain feels weird.
Androids detest condoms; they want the full experience of being raped good and proper.
So continuing with the analogy in the MDN Take, I guess jailbreaking would be like barebacking.
“The hackers have monetized the malware by pushing unwanted advertisements to compromised Android phones.”
So what the hackers are stealing is Google’s business model?
Open is better if it was safe. It’s NOT!!!!
Sing it with me, it’s not, it’s not!!
If you like your personal info to be compromised keep your unsafe open malware infested android and Windows PC.
Android is winning!
Hackers, Google what’s the difference? They are doing the same thing!
This is inappropriately making my day. Not just this outbreak but the whole story.. Repackaged apps? What a clusterf*** the Android “Marketplace” is.
Open means open to apps draining batteries, hacker infection, and carriers controlling your device (as long as the don’t replace something sacred from Google.)
What’s fascinating is that the largest and most successful operating system company in the history of history is copying the APPLE model. It took a noob from the advertising business to recreate all the downside of Windows (without the upside of the largest software ecosystem, which, btw, should be measured in DOLLARS not craplets.)
Such wannabees. Such amateur hour.
All that’s left is for google to break its search engine. Oh wait, with Search Plus Your World, I think they just did.
Thank you Steve for listening to no one. 🙂
TOP TEN SECURITY APPS FOR IPHONE
iOS 5.1
iOS 5.0.1
iOS 5.0
iOS 4.3….
you get the idea.
Unfortunately we’ll now get big articles in the media about malware risks for smartphones that’ll bury in the 5th paragraph some line like “risks are less on iPhone because Apple must approve all apps”
“Risks are near ZERO to nonexistent on an iPhone.”
How is it that it took Symantec a month to stumble upon this?
5M downloads, high-jacked home screens churning away unwanted ads and it NOW comes to their attention?
Droidtards deserve what they get. They asked for it, they got it.