The Android platform is no more unusual to malware; in fact in the Q1 of 2014 four lakh malwares were detected on Google’s operating system. The fight with malwares has taken another turn, shockingly, the experts at the German security vendor have discovered a certain Chinese smartphone makers are shipping smartphones with built-in malware.
A smartphone called star N9500, which looks deceptively like Samsung’s Galaxy S4, is being shipped with dangerous malware called Uupay. D bundled. The malware runs in the background and cannot be detected by users and the smartphone sends personal data to a server located in China and is able to install additional applications, which makes the device possible to retrieve personal data, intercept calls and online banking data, read emails and text messages or control the camera and microphone remotely.
The G data software says that “Large online retailers are still selling the Android device at prices ranging from 130 to 165 euros and distributing it across Europe”
The company further clarifies, “The increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets has not gone unnoticed by online criminals. There are about 40 million smartphone users in Germany alone. More than 1.2 million new malware programs for Android appeared last year and this number is expected to rise sharply.”
Amazingly, the firm did not discover the malware on its own, but was instead alerted to it by shopper who purchased the gadget. The low price made it attractive to European consumers, which in turn spread the malware and eventually the stolen info was more valuable than the loss on the initial sale.
Does this make you trust Android less? iOS is not 100% safe however, but compared to Android, it is less prone to malicious attacks.
Some helpful Instructions to secure device from Malware
- Protect your phone with a password from spying eyes.
- Disable network connectivity features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not being used.
- Keep device operating systems up to date
- Download Apps only from trusted sources
- If an app is requesting for more than what it needs to do its job, you shouldn’t install it.
- Install a Mobile security App
Hence stop using the star N9500 immediately and take necessary steps to minimize the effect.
