CPU-Z/HWMonitor malware

[throAU]

Linux is a security nightmare. I have to run through hoops to maintain my Linux workstation. It’s easier to sneak in rogue libraries, and probably will take months and years to figure out by a random researcher. I don’t use mac AppStore but I don’t download random utilities. I have bunch of health scripts I run if needed.

Yeah both Linux and android are right now similar to Windows 98 in the 1990s. There’s not enough security baked in outside of basic username/password auth and multiuser architecture.

The software controls SUCK

At least the code that does exist is mostly good… but the lack of ability to control third party potential malware on the box is… lacking. Its a timebomb, and exactly why all my important stuff is on macOS and linux is my gaming rig with nothing i care too much about on it.

 

[Steve Adams]

Yeah both Linux and android are right now similar to Windows 98 in the 1990s. There’s not enough security baked in outside of basic username/password auth and multiuser architecture.

The software controls SUCK

At least the code that does exist is mostly good… but the lack of ability to control third party potential malware on the box is… lacking. Its a timebomb, and exactly why all my important stuff is on macOS and linux is my gaming rig with nothing i care too much about on it.

Android is just as safe as anything else. I have actually seen more iPhones with hacked issues than androids come through our store. Most times with android it's a stupid game app they downloaded and just causing pop ups. Clear that out and it's fine. IPhones that come in are completely hacked with passwords and names changed in their apple ids. and more messages throughout the phone that the person never put there.

This is not hearsay this is my personal experience of working in a provider store for the past 5 years.

 

[maflynn]

Android is just as safe as anything else.

Android has a horrible reputation regarding malware, and google's app store is rife with apps that steal your info, malware, and other nefarious activities.

 

[throAU]

Android is just as safe as anything else. I have actually seen more iPhones with hacked issues than androids come through our store. Most times with android it's a stupid game app they downloaded and just causing pop ups. Clear that out and it's fine. IPhones that come in are completely hacked with passwords and names changed in their apple ids. and more messages throughout the phone that the person never put there.

This is not hearsay this is my personal experience of working in a provider store for the past 5 years.

What I'm reading here is that their Apple ID getting hacked via credential theft because people are not setting up MFA and they reuse passwords exposed in a breach, vs. android compromise via actual malware.

iPhones far less commonly get malware, but that isn't the only way someone can get 'hacked'.

If you don't secure your Apple ID and someone gets into it - game over.

 

[Steve Adams]

What I'm reading here is that their Apple ID getting hacked via credential theft because people are not setting up MFA and they reuse passwords exposed in a breach, vs. android compromise via actual malware.

iPhones far less commonly get malware, but that isn't the only way someone can get 'hacked'.

If you don't secure your Apple ID and someone gets into it - game over.

As I said, The majority of serious security issues are with iPhones. It's what I have witnessed in my almost 5 years of working at a carrier corporate store. Yes, the play store is full of crap, but the app store has it's fair share as well. Neither are immune, neither are better. If you are a dummy and download a crap app, that's on you.

 

[maflynn]

As I said, The majority of serious security issues are with iPhones

I disagree completely. The iPhone is by and large a much safer option then an android phone, and while there has been some CVEs released regarding iOS, they've been patched. The same cannot be said for android. You can go years without seeing an update.

In googling and using claude I see the following information

In 2025, Android device mobile threats increased by 151%, spyware by 147%, and SMS-based malware by 692% in just a two-month period alone. Over a billion malware instances were detected in 2023, with Android bearing the lion's share.

It more to say but overall I think its pretty accurate to say that android has always and continues to struggle against malware and vulnerabilities.

 

[Steve Adams]

I disagree completely. The iPhone is by and large a much safer option then an android phone, and while there has been some CVEs released regarding iOS, they've been patched. The same cannot be said for android. You can go years without seeing an update.

In googling and using claude I see the following information

It more to say but overall I think its pretty accurate to say that android has always and continues to struggle against malware and vulnerabilities

You can disagree all you want. that's not going to change my personal experience with both. i deal with both daily. I see monthly updates with my pixel and galaxy and in between updates if there are security patches, just as I see with my iPad. It's the off brand stuff that does not do updates promptly.

Claude is not trustworthy at all. No Ai is. REAL experience is.

 

[maflynn]

You can disagree all you want. that's not going to change my personal experience with both.

that's fine, we are all entitled to our opinions.

I've just stated what seems to largely be the concensus is that with the iPhone you have more privacy protections, less malware in the app store, and less vulnerabilities.

I've used android in the past, and I hated how they announced a new OS version with all these features, but I never once got that upgrade, given that its up to carriers to support the upgrade.

 

[Steve Adams]

that's fine, we are all entitled to our opinions.

I've just stated what seems to largely be the concensus is that with the iPhone you have more privacy protections, less malware in the app store, and less vulnerabilities.

I've used android in the past, and I hated how they announced a new OS version with all these features, but I never once got that upgrade, given that its up to carriers to support the upgrade.

It used to be like that with android, not so anymore. Well, here in Canada anyways. It's all done independent of carrier. We get all updates day 1 from manufacturer.

 

[bryo]

This is crazy, It looks like this only affected the setup installer from the website and not updating from the app in hwmonitor?