If you are
running Windows, you need to install antivirus software. Yes, the security
native to Windows improves with each new version. However, even Microsoft does
not intend for you to get by with Windows Defender alone. Microsoft only
includes some antivirus capabilities in its operating systems because it knows
that some people will never install third-party virus protection. So, Microsoft
provides a little something that is better than nothing but not as good as the
best antivirus products. According to the well-respected independent test lab
AV-Test, Windows Defender does not achieve the level of performance
accomplished by the best antivirus software. We rank our antivirus reviews
according to AV-Test's test results. Therefore, the best antivirus products
are: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Norton AntiVirus.
Computer (In)Security
jueves, 3 de octubre de 2013
New malicious spyware in Google Play
The spyware received the non-surprising name ‘bad news’, and is currently detected in 32 different applications, created by four different developers. We can’t tell exactly how many devices got infected, because Google Play is not showing exact number of downloads, but only a relatively wide ranges, so all we can say now is that between two million to nine million, not bad for relatively new spyware.
The great wisdom inherent in this particular spyware is that it is installed in the form of advertisements server that alerts users later on, thus it does not look dangerous at the initial stage, or when it is placed in the apps store, because there is no initial spyware expression as it “wakes up” only after some time.
So what does this spyware do? Two things you would not be very happy to happen to your device. First, it sends false alerts encourage you to download other infected apps, including ‘AlphaSMS’ that in turn sign your name without your approval to premium SMS services that cost money.
Second, it sends your phone number and your device identification number to the Spyware’s developers - two pieces of data that when are in the wrong hands, the sky is the limit.
You obviously assume Google is doing something about this. You are right. The company operates the ‘Bouncer’ service that scans the applications for traces of spyware, but it is among the ongoing anthology in which no society cannot always win. Not even Google. As of today, Google removed all known infected apps from its store. On the other hand, it is only those that are known, it is unclear how many more unknown still out there in the market.
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