New Android "RAT" infects Google Play apps, turning phones into spyware zombies

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  • Reply 101 of 186
    fuwafuwafuwafuwa Posts: 163member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by NexusPhan View Post

     

    It's insanely easy to avoid malware in Android. 


    Don't buy Android phone. Insanely easy.

  • Reply 102 of 186
    pedromartinspedromartins Posts: 1,333member

    For starters, shame on AI to try to spam FUD everywhere about Android and a supposed malware problem, going to the sad lengths of comparing it with Windows.

    Then, shame on most AI posters to fall for it, and to be so so ignorant about Android. Being ignorant is never good.

     

    There's no malware problem at all, far from it. Android is awesomely secure (maybe it's not as secure as iOS, different business model) and the casual user never had any sort of problem related with virus, trojans and malware. And, most likely, they will never have.

     

    Again, this is a non-issue, and every single most used tech website doesn't even care about posting this stuff, despite the potential lucrative clicks.

  • Reply 103 of 186
    pedromartinspedromartins Posts: 1,333member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post



    But to placate those curious souls who believe ten's of millions of old device OS's are left out of the stats Google periodically offers info on those too. You'll see that mentioned under this months chart. As of August 2013 the percentage of Google users with OS's older than 2.2 was an insignificant 1%. https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

    First, thank you for the factually informative post. Once in a while you are a very valuable poster :)

     

    Second of all, it's funny to see that there are almost as many people running older versions than gingerbread than there are people running KitKat. Play Services will eventually hit an wall and this failure to update devices will become very apparent.

     

    And in my opinion, Android evolution really stopped at 4.1, and that was a small step after 4.0. There's almost 0 differences for casual users. No difference in speed, no features, no visual changes (just little UI corrections).

  • Reply 104 of 186
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Originally Posted by pedromartins View Post

    There's no malware problem at all, far from it. Android is awesomely secure (maybe it's not as secure as iOS, different business model) and the casual user never had any sort of problem related with virus, trojans and malware. And, most likely, they will never have.


     

     

    Sorry about the TEN MEGABYTE gif, but it’s of ludicrously better quality than any of the video clips of this uploaded anywhere.

  • Reply 105 of 186
    d4njvrzfd4njvrzf Posts: 797member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pedromartins View Post

     

    First, thank you for the factually informative post. Once in a while you are a very valuable poster :)

     

    Second of all, it's funny to see that there are almost as many people running older versions than gingerbread than there are people running KitKat. Play Services will eventually hit an wall and this failure to update devices will become very apparent.

     

    And in my opinion, Android evolution really stopped at 4.1, and that was a small step after 4.0. There's almost 0 differences for casual users. No difference in speed, no features, no visual changes (just little UI corrections).


    Android development has mostly been iterative since 4.1. Before then, most of the work had gone into developing the backend features. The underlying OS reached maturity in 4.0, and Jelly Bean was the first release that paid attention to achieving a 60fps user interface. In a way, the evolution of Android is opposite to that of iOS, which instead made UI performance its first priority and slowly added backend features over time.

  • Reply 106 of 186
    hungoverhungover Posts: 603member
    Quote:


    ~~Android users can adopt the same protections that Windows PC users did during the malware crisis that plagued Microsoft's platform ten years ago. That includes not installing apps from untrusted sources and installing third party malware scanner tools. Over the past ten years however, a significant portion of Windows users have simply switched from the wide open, malware saturated Windows platform to Apple's Macs and iOS devices. Macs never became a significant malware target, an advantage Apple advertised and worked to preserve.


     

    Mr dilger, that has to be one of the worst constructed arguments that I have seen in some time.

     

    Are you suggesting that Macs can't get malware?

     

    And that Apple actively try to keep the install base of OSX small enough to discourage malware writers?

  • Reply 107 of 186
    pedromartinspedromartins Posts: 1,333member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

    Sorry about the TEN MEGABYTE gif, but it’s of ludicrously better quality than any of the video clips of this uploaded anywhere.


    So, again: Another discussion where you have absolutely nothing to add, another discussion where you simply ignore facts and try to manipulate half-truths to get on with your wrong and even delusional view of the world.

     

    Thanks for the awesome gif, but that doesn't make up for the fact of how fantastic and secure Android is, neither does it change the fact and even in the US most people specifically chose Android, despite the Apple power and every other reason we might think about.

     

    There are reasons for that. Being ignorant about them is your only choice, but at least keep it to yourself.

     

    Again, this thread is pointless and, as my previous post shows, only AI cares and there's a reason for that, too: Spreading pathetic FUD.

  • Reply 108 of 186
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    <img alt="" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="39364" data-type="61" src="http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/39364/width/350/height/700/flags/LL" style="; width: 350px; height: 219px">

    So, again: Another discussion where you have absolutely nothing to add, another discussion where you simply ignore facts and try to manipulate half-truths to get on with your wrong and even delusional view of the world.

    Thanks for the awesome gif, but that doesn't make up for the fact of how fantastic and secure Android is, neither does it change the fact and even in the US most people specifically chose Android, despite the Apple power and every other reason we might think about.

    There are reasons for that. Being ignorant about them is your only choice, but at least keep it to yourself.

    Again, this thread is pointless and, as my previous post shows, only AI cares and there's a reason for that, too: Spreading pathetic FUD.

    The only acceptable response is for you to close your account and never visit these threads again.
  • Reply 109 of 186
    DroidFTW and Gatorguy.

    I know neither of you are developers, but do you have any acquaintances that are? If so, then ask them to log into their developer account at Google. Then head over to distribution and see the percentages for Apps they developed and compare them to Google's distribution.

    And if we have any other developers here I encourage them to do the same (I'll be posting after the weekend from the office - I need to remove identifying info for clients before posting up their data).

    You're going to have a tough time explaining how REAL numbers from Google for SDK version distribution are different from Googles distribution chart (that uses creative accounting).
  • Reply 110 of 186
    Then, shame on most AI posters to fall for it, and to be so so ignorant about Android. Being ignorant is never good.

    You mean like GG? A poster who knows absolutely nothing about the underlying architecture of Android or how to code for it, yet posts up opinions as if they were facts? And when you try to engage him he switches lanes as he lacks the technical knowledge to go beneath the surface?

    If so I agree.
  • Reply 111 of 186
    pedromartinspedromartins Posts: 1,333member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post



    The only acceptable response is for you to close your account and never visit these threads again.

     

    Why? Besides you can't do it on AI. Believe me, because of the ignorance of some posters here, I tried.

     

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by EricTheHalfBee View Post



    You mean like GG? A poster who knows absolutely nothing about the underlying architecture of Android or how to code for it, yet posts up opinions as if they were facts? And when you try to engage him he switches lanes as he lacks the technical knowledge to go beneath the surface?



    If so I agree.

    I quoted his last post and I found it to be very good. Everybody takes those Google numbers as fact and not even once did I hear/read any dev complaining about it.

  • Reply 112 of 186
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    gatorguy wrote: »
    . With the default PlayStore app on your phone, even if you never use it, you're automatically getting those enhancements, no action on your part and no visit to the Playstore necessary. You may not know it, but they are there if you have Android 2.3 or better.

    And that sir is the only thing I publicly took issue with from Daniel's article. He would claim "Google maintains no accountability for the devices that ship with Android (and) Most of these will never receive security updates." I believe he's incorrect on both counts. Am I right? It's a really simple question to answer but somehow I don't expect to get one..
    DroidFTW and Gatorguy.

    I know neither of you are developers, but do you have any acquaintances that are? If so, then ask them to log into their developer account at Google. Then head over to distribution and see the percentages for Apps they developed and compare them to Google's distribution.

    And if we have any other developers here I encourage them to do the same (I'll be posting after the weekend from the office - I need to remove identifying info for clients before posting up their data).

    You're going to have a tough time explaining how REAL numbers from Google for SDK version distribution are different from Googles distribution chart (that uses creative accounting).

    Still flopping around and avoiding a direct answer I see. Your reply has nothing at all to do with the erroneous paragraph I objected to, nor have your previous ones. I'll take that as the closest I'll get to your admitting Daniel was wrong.

    Note that unlike you I don't avoid questions you raise either. I'm not a developer but it doesn't make me helpless to try and find an answer. To that end I've already looked at the SDK distribution numbers, courtesy of AppBrain, as of Feb. 13 this year. You'd probably agree they're a good source with access to data from a huge number of developers. They show an even higher percentage of KitKat users than the OS distribution chart Google publishes, 5.7%. and overall about 90% on 2.3 or better. Google might be shortchanging themselves.

    So the SDK distribution numbers you alluded to don't change the end result at all. Most Google Android users are receiving security updates even languishing on old OS versions and Google still accounts for them. Kernel changes? Gotta have an OS update. we both agree on that. Security improvements? A lot can be done and is being done with no OS update required. We both should agree on that but you can't seem to bring yourself to admit it. Why?
    http://www.appbrain.com/stats/top-android-sdk-versions

    Android SDK version table

    Android SDK version/ share/ Change in the last 30 days
    2.0-2.1 (Eclair) 3.4 % ? 13 %
    2.2 (Froyo) 3.4 % ? 10 %
    2.3 (Gingerbread) 18.1 % ? 9 %
    3.0-3.2 (Honeycomb) 0.7 % No change
    4.0.x (ICS) 12.9 % No change
    4.1-4.3 (Jelly Bean) 55.7 % ? 2 %
    4.4 (KitKat) 5.7 % ? 40 %
  • Reply 113 of 186
    HAHAHA!!!

    How you like your "open source" now you idiot fandroids. An SSL issue is child's play compared to all the junk on your garbage OS.

    The next Malware for you dorks should be named hemorrhoids.
  • Reply 114 of 186
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post





    That is incorrect, the contraction for 'it is' is indeed 'it's', but to show possession it is 'its'

    You missed out a full stop at the end of the sentence. There should be a semi-colon after 'incorrect' instead of a comma.

     

    Its a pleasure

  • Reply 115 of 186
    zoetmbzoetmb Posts: 2,654member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Corrections View Post

     

     

     

     

    Also remember that "it is" as a contraction becomes its not it’s. 


    No, you have it backwards:

     

     Its is the possessive form of it ( the dog licked its paw), while it's is the contraction of it is ( look, it's a dog licking its paw) or it has ( it's been too long). The apostrophe in it's never denotes a possessive. The confusion is understandable, since other possessive forms (singular nouns) do take an apostrophe + s, as in the girl's bike or the president's smile.

  • Reply 116 of 186
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pedromartins View Post

     

    For starters, shame on AI to try to spam FUD everywhere about Android and a supposed malware problem, going to the sad lengths of comparing it with Windows.

    Then, shame on most AI posters to fall for it, and to be so so ignorant about Android. Being ignorant is never good.

     

    There's no malware problem at all, far from it. Android is awesomely secure (maybe it's not as secure as iOS, different business model) and the casual user never had any sort of problem related with virus, trojans and malware. And, most likely, they will never have.

     

    Again, this is a non-issue, and every single most used tech website doesn't even care about posting this stuff, despite the potential lucrative clicks.


    Being ignorant is often good. If you listen to an amazing piece of music for the first time, your ignorance can be good.

     

    Conversely, if you were locked up in a cell for eternity to listen to the Cheeky Girls on repeat, you might construe your lack of ignorance as a bad thing.

  • Reply 117 of 186
    mnbob1mnbob1 Posts: 269member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post





    The article was actually pretty informative, at least until it strayed into misinformation at the very end. Every Google Android device with 2.3 and above (that's pretty much all of them) have received security updates even if the OS itself is still an older version. Security and feature updates can come directly from Google via Play Services and have.

     

    Google does issue security updates but mostly to manufacturers and carriers. Google sends them directly to pure Android systems like their Nexus, Motorola and a few others. Carriers and manufacturers stand in the way of the end user actually receiving them in many cases. This is changing with many manufacturers but the carriers (Verizon is a big offender) make updates available long after they have been released by Google and/or the manufacturer. The truth is they won't get the updates because the carriers will tell them they need a new phone in order to sell new phones. Play Services in many cases is not controlled directly by Google on all Android phones. The carriers like to control it and they do it in conjunction with the manufacturer on some. The carrier controls it so they can control when updates are issued. Remember Android is an open source system and Google loses a lot of control once it gets out into the wild. They are trying to fix that but Verizon and AT&T are wild horses. The bloatware they put on top of a good phone like the Samsung Galaxy S4 can bring it to the performance of a cheap free phone.

     

     

  • Reply 118 of 186
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    mnbob1 wrote: »
    Play Services in many cases is not controlled directly by Google on all Android phones. The carriers like to control it and they do it in conjunction with the manufacturer on some. The carrier controls it so they can control when updates are issued.

    Incorrect. Carriers have no control over Play Services or it's updates. Zero. That's one reason it exists. Google created a way to completely bypass uncooperative manufacturers and inflexible carriers to deliver security enhancements and feature updates directly to Android users. With Play Services delivering some of the newest features of Google Android no longer rely on an OS update that may never come from a manufacturer/carrier who's in no rush.
    http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/
  • Reply 119 of 186
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post







    Still flopping around and avoiding a direct answer I see. Your reply has nothing at all to do with the erroneous paragraph I objected to, nor have your previous ones. I'll take that as the closest I'll get to your admitting Daniel was wrong.



    Note that unlike you I don't avoid questions you raise either. I'm not a developer but it doesn't make me helpless to try and find an answer. To that end I've already looked at the SDK distribution numbers, courtesy of AppBrain, as of Feb. 13 this year. You'd probably agree they're a good source with access to data from a huge number of developers. They show an even higher percentage of KitKat users than the OS distribution chart Google publishes, 5.7%. and overall about 90% on 2.3 or better. Google might be shortchanging themselves.



    So the SDK distribution numbers you alluded to don't change the end result at all. Most Google Android users are receiving security updates even languishing on old OS versions and Google still accounts for them. Kernel changes? Gotta have an OS update. we both agree on that. Security improvements? A lot can be done and is being done with no OS update required. We both should agree on that but you can't seem to bring yourself to admit it. Why?

    http://www.appbrain.com/stats/top-android-sdk-versions



    Android SDK version table



    Android SDK version/ share/ Change in the last 30 days

    2.0-2.1 (Eclair) 3.4 % ? 13 %

    2.2 (Froyo) 3.4 % ? 10 %

    2.3 (Gingerbread) 18.1 % ? 9 %

    3.0-3.2 (Honeycomb) 0.7 % No change

    4.0.x (ICS) 12.9 % No change

    4.1-4.3 (Jelly Bean) 55.7 % ? 2 %

    4.4 (KitKat) 5.7 % ? 40 %

     

    Shall I go back over your history and give you a list of all the topics/questions you skirt around or avoid? It's your MO, and everyone here knows it.

     

    You are a liar if you claim you don't avoid questions. Outright, plain and simple liar.

  • Reply 120 of 186
    sudonymsudonym Posts: 233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post

     
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pedromartins View Post







    So, again: Another discussion where you have absolutely nothing to add, another discussion where you simply ignore facts and try to manipulate half-truths to get on with your wrong and even delusional view of the world.



    Thanks for the awesome gif, but that doesn't make up for the fact of how fantastic and secure Android is, neither does it change the fact and even in the US most people specifically chose Android, despite the Apple power and every other reason we might think about.



    There are reasons for that. Being ignorant about them is your only choice, but at least keep it to yourself.



    Again, this thread is pointless and, as my previous post shows, only AI cares and there's a reason for that, too: Spreading pathetic FUD.




    The only acceptable response is for you to close your account and never visit these threads again.

    Good riddance!

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