First drive-by malware for Android confirmed

ScalyFreak · 05-04-2012, 01:57 PM

I'm not sure if this goes in News or Android devices. It's Android News.

So the first drive-by malware for Android has been sighted in the wild. Drive-by means that all you need to do is view a website in your device's browser, and that triggers the script that downloads the virus to the device.

Quote:

"When the suspicious application finishes downloading, the device will display a notification prompting the user to click on the notification to install the downloaded app," Lookout reports. "In order to actually install the app to a device, it must have the 'Unknown sources' setting enabled (this feature is commonly referred to as 'sideloading'). If the device does not have the unknown sources setting enabled, the installation will be blocked."

Easy to avoid, in other words, but it was a matter of time before it happened. Doubtlessly, there will be more. Many more, and far more insidious than this one. It always starts small, but all operating systems eventually get malware. In a way, you could almost argue that an operating system isn't actually established on the market until someone has written malware for it.

Source: Tom's Hardware

RainingLemur · 05-04-2012, 02:22 PM

It was inevitable, I suppose. And, it's probably only a matter of time before the vicious ones hit the internets.

I wonder what sites were distributing the malware.

Talldog · 05-04-2012, 04:24 PM

The first thing I did when I got my Android phone was to pay for a Lookout subscription. Android is like the wild, wild west and you can't be too careful.

SeaKing · 05-05-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talldog

The first thing I did when I got my Android phone was to pay for a Lookout subscription. Android is like the wild, wild west and you can't be too careful.

Doggone it. I will have to look into this.

SeaKing · 05-10-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talldog

The first thing I did when I got my Android phone was to pay for a Lookout subscription. Android is like the wild, wild west and you can't be too careful.

I am not sure what you get for free and what costs.
Who has a free subscription and who pays and what is the difference?

ScalyFreak · 05-11-2012, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaKing

I am not sure what you get for free and what costs.
Who has a free subscription and who pays and what is the difference?

Other than one of them being free?

I use Dr Web, the free "light" version on my phone. It doesn't run in the background, other than to auto-update as I've told it to, and when I download anything it wakes up and scans the file before letting it install, including updates to already installed apps. I'm happy with it.

Talldog · 05-11-2012, 09:11 PM

This link https://www.mylookout.com/premium shows the differences between the free and paid versions. You do get added value for the paid version, and I want to support the vendor.

No doubt though, the free version is much better than nothing.

SeaKing · 05-12-2012, 12:59 AM

Thanks.

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05-04-2012, 02:22 PM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	It was inevitable, I suppose. And, it's probably only a matter of time before the vicious ones hit the internets. I wonder what sites were distributing the malware.

05-04-2012, 04:24 PM	#3
Talldog Addict Posts: 293 Karma: 1431716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Paperwhite, KDX Graphite, Surface Pro	The first thing I did when I got my Android phone was to pay for a Lookout subscription. Android is like the wild, wild west and you can't be too careful.

05-11-2012, 09:11 PM	#7
Talldog Addict Posts: 293 Karma: 1431716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Paperwhite, KDX Graphite, Surface Pro	This link https://www.mylookout.com/premium shows the differences between the free and paid versions. You do get added value for the paid version, and I want to support the vendor. No doubt though, the free version is much better than nothing.

05-12-2012, 12:59 AM	#8
SeaKing Frequent Flier Posts: 1,282 Karma: 2058993297 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: KB kindle aboard, Galx Tab 7.0 Plus, trying out Droid 1 as mini-tab	Thanks.

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