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Report: Android Malware Has Increased Significantly Over Past 6 Months

How does one get malware on android? Through apps? I just bought myself the lg optimus v, new user.
 
First of all, I find it hard to take any of this seriously when it is coming from someone who just joined and makes two posts about the same subject within minutes of joining. It makes you look like a troll. Second, hearing "reports" about increasing malware from an antivirus company is hardly a reliable source. Their job is to increase usage of their product; scaring people into using it tends to help them. See where I am going with this?
 
I'm just going to rephrase my post from your other thread.

First of all, I find it hard to take any of this seriously when it is coming from someone who just joined and makes two posts about the same subject within minutes of joining. It makes you look like a troll. Second, the very article you linked says this hasn't been confirmed in any applications. Not to mention that common sense would entirely prevent this from ever being installed on a device. If you download a wallpaper that can record audio and has full internet access, you kinda deserve this in the first place for not doing some basic research about the OS you are running on your phone.
 
drdoom said:
First of all, I find it hard to take any of this seriously when it is coming from someone who just joined and makes two posts about the same subject within minutes of joining. It makes you look like a troll. Second, hearing "reports" about increasing malware from an antivirus company is hardly a reliable source. Their job is to increase usage of their product; scaring people into using it tends to help them. See where I am going with this?
Click to expand...


I may be new to the forum but that doesn't make this article wrong.
 
MartianVirus said:
I may be new to the forum but that doesn't make this article wrong.
Click to expand...

It's still a report from a company that stands to make money from this kind of scare tactic. It's not too had to not get malware on your phone, just don't install something you don't trust.
 
gregtrips said:
How does one get malware on android? Through apps? I just bought myself the lg optimus v, new user.
Click to expand...


Welcome to AF!

Have a look here:
http://androidforums.com/android-ap...ps-avoid-viruses-guide-those-new-android.html

Life with the little green robot is not as scary as you think.

Also, @MartianVirus
While DrDoom is very "to the point" ;) he is also correct. Lookout are smart guys, but they work in an industry that makes profits off of the fear (founded or unfounded) of the user.

They publish this nonsense at least once a month on their blog. Usually it's just a rehash of some old malware, or something they downloaded from a grey market "warez" site or something. They have been doing this for many years since the WinMo days as far as I know. All the anti-virus companies release PR reports like this. And they release them often.

The media also likes to pick this up because their business is advertising based. Sensationalism is the name of the game. If they can freak you out into reading the article, then they make money. "If it bleeds, it leads."

There have been a few well publicized cases of true malware in the Android Market. But the apps that contained the malware were so incredibly stupid I couldn't even believe anyone downloaded them. They had names like "Super Duper Awesome Best Guitar App" developed by "The Super Duper Awesome Best Guitar App Team"

So yeah. :) Some of the scare-mongering gets to epic proportions.


Personally, I'd advise against reading some of the popular tech sites like Engadget/Tech Crunch/InfoWorld (and it's network) and Gizmodo.

Stick to places like ArsTechnica, Slashdot, AnandTech, HardOCP, Bittech

Those sites care about their users and have good articles.

And of course Phandroid ;)


hth
 
From the original blog: "today we have received an Android package to our collection"

I wonder if this is anything like the process by which I receive breakfast - after I fry an egg, make the toast, and put it on a plate.;)
 
I would love to have this trojan on my phone. I've been trying off an on to record calls on my phone and cannot get it to work reliably at all unless I turn the speakerphone on. I hate that. If this trojan can record my calls and save them to my SD card without me having to turn the speakerphone on, then I am all about it.
 
It's funny to think about how boring it would be for someone to listen in on my typical phone calls.

Them: "Thank you for calling Best Buy Henrietta, how can I help you?"
Me: "Do you have the Logitech Revue in stock?"
Them: "No, I'm sorry, we're out of those."
Me: "OK, thanks anyway."

(*Next call*)

Them: "Thank you for calling Best Buy Perinton, how can I help you?"
Me: "Do you have the Logitech Revue in stock?"
Them: "No, I'm sorry, we're out of those."
Me: "Thanks anyway."

Etc.
 
A.Nonymous said:
I would love to have this trojan on my phone. I've been trying off an on to record calls on my phone and cannot get it to work reliably at all unless I turn the speakerphone on. I hate that. If this trojan can record my calls and save them to my SD card without me having to turn the speakerphone on, then I am all about it.
Click to expand...


I would love to have an app like this as well. is there a *legit* app like this available anywhere?
 
drdoom said:
It depends on your phone. I know newer HTC phones are unable to record incoming audio unless you use the speakerphone.

You can try this app if your phone isn't on the excluded list.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.killermobile.totalrecall.trial&feature=search_result
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I've got an HTC phone and I've tried that app. If it's on the market I've tried it. They all record only when I have the speakerphone on. Otherwise, they only record my side of the conversation.
 
A.Nonymous said:
I've got an HTC phone and I've tried that app. If it's on the market I've tried it. They all record only when I have the speakerphone on. Otherwise, they only record my side of the conversation.
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Yeah HTC has programmed their phones to block the recording of incoming audio.
 
MartianVirus said:
New Android trojan can record phone calls

This thing sucks. :(


New Android trojan can record phone calls, expose your embarrassing fantasy baseball talk -- Engadget
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That is Bull and if you look at all of the comments that this damn 'news' been posted all over the web, you will see comments that stat that it's not true.

If you look at the Android Manifest.permission, there's no permission in 'phone calls' that 'intercept outgoing calls'

public static final String CALL_PHONE

Since: API Level 1
Allows an application to initiate a phone call without going through the Dialer user interface for the user to confirm the call being placed.
Constant Value: "android.permission.CALL_PHONE"
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People should really stop listening to these 'companies' that self promoting and are simply crying wolf every chance they get with Malware and trojans on Android. Remember, inciting fear in the community means more money for these companies.

drdoom said:
It depends on your phone. I know newer HTC phones are unable to record incoming audio unless you use the speakerphone.

You can try this app if your phone isn't on the excluded list.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.killermobile.totalrecall.trial&feature=search_result
Click to expand...
I don't think it's an HTC limitation but an ANDROID limitation. Like A.Nonymous, I have YET been able to find an app that instantly records an app 'in house'. All of them requires you to turn on the speaker and records the audio using this permission:
public static final String RECORD_AUDIO

Since: API Level 1
Allows an application to record audio
Constant Value: "android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO"
Click to expand...

This issue was even 'officially' reported to Google. Issue 14301 and Issue 8187, Issue 2117

This is in the Google Android Developer group support:

Call Recording. - Android Developers | Google Groups
You cannot access the in-call audio stream through the SDK. Using the
MIC and speakerphone mode is the only known option at this time.
Click to expand...

http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/355254941f17aa17#
This is a limitation in the baseband processor - this is a feature the
hardware vendor would have to support.
Click to expand...
^--from what this person, it seems to be a hardware limitation with the processor.

For all of these Melware scares, just be smart. Read ALL of the permissions and look at the reviews before you download an app. It's your duty to be vigilant.
 
/sigh malware scare?

If you're afraid of malware, delete your Facebook account. Facebook is a growing avenue of identity theft and scams and everything else nasty. I bet it outpaces Android 10-to-1, at least. I have no idea why people fret over Android (or any operating system, for that matter) when they accept friend invites from people they've never met. Geotag all their pics. Post about how they have all this stuff. And then post that they're going on a 2 week vacation out of the area. And they have their telephone number on public display.

But clearly we should be scrutinizing Android.
 
The voice recorder that came with my htc desire hd records calls perfectly, both sides, with the speakerphone off. Guess I just got lucky with this phone or something.
 
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