Following the recent success of Google Android phones, the BBC reports that a virus program that can steal cash through phones running Google’s Android operating system has been found. The program, which pretends to be a media player, starts sending premium rate text messages, once installed thus running up large bills via premium rate numbers owned by the malicious apps creator.
Kaspersky Labs believe that this is the first malicious application to be found on Android phones. The security firm’s advisory warns that – “Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a – is being spread by text message. The message prompts users to install an application, 13KB in size, which purports to be a media player”. The virus is believed to pose a low risk to worldwide users but most prevalent among Russian Android phone users. Google advice users to “only install apps that they trust and exercise caution when installing applications outside of Android Market”.
Talking Point
How can users protect themselves from cyber-criminals who are obviously now targeting Android phones due to the recent increase in the number of Android applications?
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Whiztechy
August 16, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Recently I came across a news that Android application may hack your personal data and now cash is also at risk. Android users love its applications but if such virus will continue, many android lovers would be disappointed.
Computer Help
August 16, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Well, without virus how can a antivirus company survive so there has to be a virus ,and since Kaspersky first discovered it so they will be the first to benefit from it.
Domain name registration
August 19, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Thanks for sharing this news, I hope lots of Google Android users we get to know about this scam before it too late.
Josh
May 30, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Thank you for sharing this it makes us aware that android phone nowadays can be prone to virus. We should install antivirus programs in android running phones now. I hope android will find a way to get rid of this virus.
Gary - flat stomach exercises
July 18, 2011 at 12:25 pm
The onus should be put on the banks to deal with this sort of malicious behaviour.
Sandra
August 23, 2011 at 10:11 am
It looks like a year after this post the virus threat on android phones hasn’t grown. I own a Samsung Galaxy S, and never had any trouble.
If people infect their phone by downloading a program from a random text message then they deserve to be infected, that’s just ignorant/naief.
Jim Olenbush
August 28, 2011 at 2:27 pm
I love Android phones. I even love them more than iphones but if such virus continues, i’m switching to iphone. It’s not safe and there are a lot of important data in my phone. It’s too risky.
Jack
May 1, 2012 at 3:54 pm
You only get a virus on an android if you mindlessly download stuff that you shouldn’t.
I only know of a friend that got a virus because he downloaded some random app from a random website.
Android > iPhone !