Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

SECURITY ALERT: Android wallpaper app that steals your data was downloaded by million

pflau said:
Apple can always remote kill an App.

With Android, because of the open architecture, once you got an app on their phone, it's is impossible to remove.
Click to expand...

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/google-flips-remote-kill-switch-on-android-apps/

You really have no clue do you? ;)

pflau said:
YOU protect yourself. Don't speak for the average Android users who are stuck with Android on their phones because it is free for the cellphone makers.
Click to expand...

By educating others on what to look for I can do a little to help, just as I would help my iPhone/Mac/PC owning buddies who may need help with getting things done or fixed.

I can't do a single thing regarding the situation with handset manufacturers choosing Android but FYI, (seeing as you know very little about the platform) once Android handset manufacturers start including Google services on their phones (GMail, Google Search, Google Maps e.t.c) they have to pay Google to do so. This was why Google issued a cease and desist on Cyanogen for including the "GApps" with his custom ROM's. Source

Then there are the manufacturers who have to licence tech from Microsoft to use Android (a crazy situation if you ask me). The "free" OS stops being free very quickly.....

To put it bluntly: Android OS at a core level is completely free and Open source this is true but once Manufacturers start including Google apps, it is no longer free.

Both platforms are susceptible to wrong doings and f-up's, this is a simple fact we'll all have to learn to live with.
 
dogie678 said:
THIS IS WAY more likely to happen on android phones because ANDROID and the WHOLE ANDROID ECOSYSTEM is INSECURE.


Just like there's a gazillion more viruses/spywares/trojans on Windows than on MAC OS X.


ANDROID = Windows of mobile.
Click to expand...

damn... I like apple products, but you can clearly see who are the fanboys in this site... I hope someday apple will get a BIG A$$ virus just to make you shutup with your elitist fanboism... have some sympathy for those ppl who had their private info stolen...

I hope google/android will fix this for security of others. AND YES I have an iPhone 4 and iPad and no I'm not hating apple. Just particular individual who got their head stuck up in their a$$es..
 
dogie678 said:
THIS IS WAY more likely to happen on android phones because ANDROID and the WHOLE ANDROID ECOSYSTEM is INSECURE.


Just like there's a gazillion more viruses/spywares/trojans on Windows than on MAC OS X.


ANDROID = Windows of mobile.
Click to expand...

out of curiousity, what makes a mac more inherently secure than a PC?
 
iPadztr said:
I hope someday apple will get a BIG A$$ virus just to make you shutup with your elitist fanboism....
Click to expand...

You can always write a virus yourself to prove a point. The virus does not have to be destructive. Perhaps it's extremely difficult. Perhaps it is impossible. It's easy to say "SOMEBODY will write a big virus to prove you wrong...", no don't talk the talk, please, walk the walk.
 
wreckshop said:
out of curiousity, what makes a mac more inherently secure than a PC?
Click to expand...

the fact that not as many people use them as windows. when it becomes worth a hackers time, i'm sure they'll have no problem hacking a mac.

until then, this is WAAAYYYY WWAAAYYYYYY more likely to happen to windows than a mac.
 
Did anybody read the update:

(Update: Lookout has clarified in followup comments with AppleInsider that the intent of their "App Genome Project" research was to "identify security threats in the wild and provide insight into how applications are accessing personal data and other phone resources."

The group noted that the Android wallpaper app was "not proven to be malicious," but that the app does "ask the user for specific information around the phone details and that information is transferred to a server [in China]."

Correcting the original VentureBeat story, Lookout stated that "the apps from these developers send several pieces of sensitive data to a server, including a device’s phone number, subscriber identifier, and currently programmed voicemail number. The applications we analyzed did not access a device’s SMS messages, browsing history, or voicemail password (unless a user manually programmed the voicemail number on the device to include the voicemail password)."

Lookout also reiterated there is "no proof of malicious intent and in the past apps have been a bit overzealous in getting access to sensitive data with no ill intent." Lookout compared the Android wallpaper app copying local data to a Chinese server with a recent App Store title that purported to be a flashlight app while actually including a hidden SOCKS proxy that could be used for tethering.

Lookout added that it hasn't "yet" published a report detailing the Android wallpaper app, suggesting that it is continuing to look at the situation.)
 
ChazUK said:
I can't do a single thing regarding the situation with handset manufacturers choosing Android but FYI,...
Click to expand...

blah blah blah blah BLAH BLAH BLAH... darn you sure got a LOT of explaining to do. Sorry I felt asleep after the second sentence.

The fact reminds that many Android users got Android dumped on their laps by default and they're unsophisticated users who are prime targets for the evil-doers.
 
ballen420 said:
the fact that not as many people use them as windows. when it becomes worth a hackers time, i'm sure they'll have no problem hacking a mac.

until then, this is WAAAYYYY WWAAAYYYYYY more likely to happen to windows than a mac.
Click to expand...

there are WAYYY MORE iPhones out there than Android phones. YET this thing keeps on happenning on Android phones more often.


remember this?

Researcher Builds Mock Botnet Of 'Twilight'-Loving Android Users

http://blogs.forbes.com/firewall/20...mock-botnet-of-twilight-loving-android-users/
 
wreckshop said:
out of curiosity, what makes a mac more inherently secure than a PC?
Click to expand...

It is not inherently less likely to be infected. In essence, there are plenty of security holes in OS X but it is not as worthwhile for hackers to find them vs the amount of Windows systems out there. It is all based on market share.
 
lavrishevo said:
It is not inherently less likely to be infected. It is all based on market share of PC vs Mac.
Click to expand...

WRONG.


iPhone's market share >>>>>> Android's market share


Number of spyware/botnet/etc. on Android >>>>>>>> iPhone
 
dogie678 said:
WRONG.


iPhone's market share >>>>>> Android's market share


Number of spyware/botnet/etc. on Android >>>>>>>> iPhone
Click to expand...

The questions was about Mac vs PC, not iOS vs Android. Reading comprehension. This means you read what others post and comprehend the meaning of the words.
 
pflau said:
blah blah blah blah BLAH BLAH BLAH... darn you sure got a LOT of explaining to do. Sorry I felt asleep after the second sentence.

The fact reminds that many Android users got Android dumped on their laps by default and they're unsophisticated users who are prime targets for the evil-doers.
Click to expand...

Is that your comeback when someone refutes your idiotic, inaccurate rants?
pflau said:
Apple can always remote kill an App.

With Android, because of the open architecture, once you got an app on their phone, it's is impossible to remove.
Click to expand...

I totally admire the passion you have for the iPhone and iOS. It really is something special.
You may want to take advantage of this feature:
download.png

I know I will! :D
 
dogie678 said:
WRONG.


iPhone's market share >>>>>> Android's market share


Number of spyware/botnet/etc. on Android >>>>>>>> iPhone
Click to expand...

So what you're really saying is that it's better to have a device that can't do things, so that those things can't be exploited?

Let's just start using pen and paper again if that's the case.
 
ChazUK said:
Is that your comeback when someone refutes your idiotic, inaccurate rants?
Click to expand...

I would not call that a come back. I call that giving you a taste of how a typical Android user/victim would react to your long-winded lecture.

Please ignore me. As you have ignored the Android victim with your blame-the-vitcim attitude.
 
It'll be a cold day in a very warm place before I put anything that should stay secure (i.e. bank info, wife's true measurements, etc.) on a TELEPHONE.
 
This is just another old and continuous apple to oranges comparison. The juvenile people of the world think just because both are plucked off a tree they must be the same and one must be better then the other. In reality they know an apple and an orange are different but will keep arguing the apple is better just because they like apples (or they like to start arguments). Sure their respective trees have many similarities but because of their many more differences they will always produce different fruit. This is why I find it interesting and comical that people continue to argue about PC vs. Mac or iOS vs. Android when in reality it is very difficult to compare the two because of their vast differences. Like the apple and orange always tasting different, the iOS and Android software will always have their individual faults and benefits making it impossible to say one is better then the other. Personal taste will ultimately be the reason one is chosen over the other. It is sad when people get exploited and I hope both companies take measures to prevent future events.

For the record I love apples, but still drink a lot of orange juice. They day I argue with someone about the apple vs. the orange is a day I hope never comes. I will enjoy the taste of both and be happy.
 
x986 said:
It'll be a cold day in a very warm place before I put anything that should stay secure (i.e. bank info, wife's true measurements, etc.) on a TELEPHONE.
Click to expand...

It took me a long time to trust internet banking, mostly because I don’t really understand how it works. Giving that same trust to a device that is very portable or used in the public will need to be proven to have much better security then I currently believe is available. Just think about how long people used analog cell phones not knowing how simple it was to intercept private conversations.
 
lavrishevo said:
The questions was about Mac vs PC, not iOS vs Android. Reading comprehension. This means you read what others post and comprehend the meaning of the words.
Click to expand...

i don't even know where to start. :D

you need help.
 
jaykk said:
I guess there are vested interest and co-ordinated attack against apple. They want to see Apple fail, so that they can go back to old virus ridden windows style world or even DOS days.
Click to expand...

Uh, no. Apple products make news because they push into the mainstream. Everyone buys them, not just techies. Thats why Apple believes they have to keep the App Store on lockdown. Because they need to protect morons from themselves.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back