Android User: Be aware

How to spot “bad” apps that can take over your phone

Malicious apps can hand criminals total control of your phone - allowing them to run up huge bills, or even steal your identity

Are the apps on your smartphone what they seem? Security firm McAfee warned this week that cybercriminals have disguised malicious software as real-looking banking apps.

Downloading such apps hands the “keys” to your bank account to criminals.

Other malicious apps can hand criminals total control of your phone - allowing them to run up huge bills, or even steal your identity. 

Even apps on Google’s Play Store aren’t always safe - in just one “purge” earlier this year, Google removed 60,000 malicious apps. 

Cybercriminals adapt their attacks constantly - but there are a few clear signs that warn that an app is bad news. 

If you're worried, security firms such as AVG, Norton and ESET offer free scanner apps (search on Google Play) which will tell you if your phone is infected. 

The app that suddenly becomes free

Many apps have a “Lite” version where you get some functions for free - but you should be cautious if the full version is  offered free of charge. The predictive text keyboard app Swiftkey was offered “free” on pirate sites - but had a built-in keylogger which recorded users’ typing to steal their passwords and other private details. 

The strangely familiar app

If you're looking for Bad Piggies, download Bad Piggies - don't download anything that's similar but not quite there (ie misspelt, or with one word changed slightly). Cybercriminals target hit apps with similar-looking fakes - and downloading them is bad news. 

The five-star app with bad reviews

Don’t just go by star ratings - read the reviews. Cybercriminals posted a fake version of hit PC game FTL on Google’s Play Store earlier this year - and it garnered five-star ratings, because users were forced to rate the app before it would work. It didn’t work at all, of course - but the criminals earned a tidy sum before the app was pulled. 

The app that arrives early

If you’re waiting for the release of a big game or app, and it pops up a week early, be very wary. Earlier this year, scammers released malicious software disguised as BBM - BlackBerry’s messaging software - for Android, on a rumoured launch date. BlackBerry had dismissed the rumour - but 100,000 victims downloaded the app. 

Downloading bad apps hands the “keys” to your bank account to criminals (REX/Image Broker)

The screensaver that needs to send SMS

When you’re installing any Android app, look carefully at the “permissions” it requires - a list of phone functions it needs to access. Dodgy apps will request access to large amounts of information – all your text messages, or all network communications. If an app is requesting this sort of stuff, and it’s just a screensaver, alarm clock or photo editor, don’t install.

The first-timer

Apps without star ratings are usually bad news - why hasn’t anyone reviewed them? When shopping for Android apps, you should think like you’re on eBay - ie has the developer done any other apps? Are there good ratings for them? What does their website look like? 

The one from the “bargain” app store

Stores such as Google Play, Amazon’s App Store and GetJar DO sometimes have “bad” apps - but they remove bad apps when detected. Other sites don’t. Be particularly wary of any site offering “free” apps - or sites which review apps, and offer a link to download direct from the review.  [source]

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Wireless EarBuds

Wireless EarBuds

The Earin are the smallest pair of wireless earbuds created by Olle Lindén. Not only are they amazing in style, design, and technology but most importantly deliver high quality audio sound.The two tiny earbuds function together as one Bluetooth headphone and fit perfectly in your ears. These types of headphones come with no lights, sensors, wires or other attachments so no tangles. They’re almost invisible yet provide a fantastic music experience and are a true companion for a music lover.

Each earbud has several silicone foam tips to choose from so that they can be the right color and best fit for your ear. The company also designed an accessory called, Concha lock which allows for a better grip so the earbud can stay in place during every situation.

The earbuds are stored in a special cover which also works as a charger. With dimensions of 62mm in length and 18mm in diameter, the capsule case is compact and can be carried anywhere even in your pockets.
Reference :[1][2]

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Android Users: Specially for you. Be alert

This is specially for all Android users, because now a days android is so popular so attackers targeted this mobile operating system. Guys be secure and safe while accessing through your mobile phones. Read furthermore to secure your privacy. :)

In Android phone, more malware distributed through mobile ad networks. You are confusing what is mobile ad network? Answer is : Advertising network or Ad network is a company that connects advertisers to publishers or web sites that want to host advertisement. Examples are - AdBuddiz, admob etc.

Mobile ad-network can provide a loophole to serve malware to Android devices, according to researchers from security firm Palo Alto Networks who have found new Android threats being distributed in this manner. That's is vulnerable for the surfing.

Most mobile developers embed advertising frameworks into their applications in order to generate revenue. Unlike ads displayed inside Web Browsers, ads displayed within mobile apps are served by code that's actually part of those applications. (Generate revenue through the ads display as well as the number of visitors).

The embedding of code for the advertising network into a mobile application itself ensures that ads get tracked and the developers get paid, but at the same time the third-party code represents a backdoor into the device, said Wade Williamson, senior security at Palo Alto Networks.

"If the mobile ad network turns malicious, then a completely benign application could begin bringing down malicious content to the device" Williamson said. There are precedents for this type of attack.  In April, mobile security firm Lookout identified 32 apps hosted on Google Play that were using a rogue ad network later dubbed BadNews. The apps were benign, but the malicious ad networks was designed to push all fraud malware targeting Russian speaking users through this apps.

In Asia, similar type of attack involved using a rouge ad network to push malicious code through other apps without being detected by mobile antivirus vendors.

The malicious payload pushed by the ad network runs quietly in the device memory and waits for users to initiate the installation of any other application. At this time, it prompts users to also install and grant permissions to the malware, appearing as if it's part of the new application's installation process.

This is very decent approach where end users does not need to do anything wrong. Once the malware installed, is has ability to interact and hide received text messages, as well as to send text messages in order to sign up users for premium rate mobile services, Palo Alto Networks said in a description of the attack sent via email.

Bogdan Botezatu, a senior e-threat analyst at antivirus vendor BitDefender, said that, this malware is based upon geographical region. They also expects the distribution through mobile ad-network to become more common, especially in countries where mobile devices can't access the official GooglePlay store or where users have difficulties in purchasing applications in a legitimate manner, casing most Android device to be configured to accept APKs(Android Application Packages) from unknown sources.

Google Play checks APKs for malware before approving them, so getting an infected APK uploaded there can be very hard, Botezatu said. Continue with their thought that users are more likely to fall victim to "malvertising" --malicious advertising --attacks launched through mobile apps than Web browsers. 

So, Android users should make sure that their devices are not configured to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources and should run a mobile antivirus product, which might be able to detect malicious apps delivered through ad networks.

Tips :
1) Don't install app outside the Google Play store
2) Always install antivirus.
3) Clear your browser cache memory (Your surfing data store into this memory)
4) Don' install other app store which allows malware app to be installed.
5) Before installing apps check it out properly. 

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