“Bluebox Security, the same outfit that last year identified a worrisome (but thankfully patched) flaw in the Android app-packaging system, has done it again,” David Meyer reports for Gigaom. “On Tuesday, the company said it had found a new Android vulnerability that potentially allows the stealthy theft of information from millions of devices.”
“Those with old Android handsets that no longer receive firmware updates are particularly at risk,” Meyer reports. “Bluebox notified Google of this vulnerability back in April, and Google has distributed a patch to its Open Handset Alliance partners. According to Bluebox CTO Jeff Forristal, Motorola has already released patches for some of its devices.”
“However, as is always the case with Android, different vendors move at different speeds. And, given that this goes all the way back to Android 2.1, there will be many devices out there that are no longer receiving firmware updates, and that will therefore remain vulnerable,” Meyer reports. “As always, the advice here is to only install apps from trusted sources and be wary of social engineering ploys that try to get you to install apps from emails and so on. ”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Fragmandroid. “Open” in all the wrong ways.
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