Androids being hacked?

[tara_adele]

I just heard that androids were being hacked... only way we can avoid it is to wait on an update from google? Is this correct?...

 

[ironass]

I just heard that androids were being hacked... only way we can avoid it is to wait on an update from google? Is this correct?...

WOW! Another hacking story. I wonder who sponsors this one?

Could you please post a link to it.

EDIT: it looks like this story that seems to be spreading like wildfire across the pond. The security company that found this, "potential", threat in April, told Google about it then. I'm guessing that since there has not been any mass worldwide hacking of Android since then, that the, "potential", issue has been patched by Android.

Must be a slow news day States side!

 

[tara_adele]

I found it on cnn money's website. (I can't post link bc I'm new). Someone at work informed me about this. I had to search online for it bc I haven't heard anything about this till this morning. So there's no hacks going around?

 

[IAmSixNine]

been around since android 2.2 so its not to big of an issue.

 

[Richard Sachs]

I read the article on Yahoo: Android hack
A major mobile security flaw could impact up to 950 million Android users around the globe. It has to do with the way the operating system processes pictures, audio or video sent via text message. The worst case scenario would allow hackers full access to your phone. The flaw was found by a cyber security company called Zimperium and they notified Google (GOOGL) on April 9th and told them how to fix it. Here we are on July 28th and it would seem no such fix has been widely implemented.
Makes sense. My android phone miss behaves since around April or May. Crashes, slow, buggy, spam advertisements you name it.

 

[can3gxw]

Here's the information on the "Stagefright" exploit, straight from the BIG MAN himself (and I'm talking stature and position, not the squishy parts around the middle)

The 'Stagefright' exploit: What you need to know | Android Central

 

[Mal Lignant Tumor]

What, you think the NSA ain't already been in your phone (or computer, or mail, or...)?

Best thing to do...turn off your smartphone and go back to a flip phone. Also, disconnect your computer's from the internet, shut down your WiFi sytems, and cover the lens on your security camera too. Delete ALL your on-line screen names (just kidding, it's already too late for that). Cancel your bank accounts, Social Security number, change family doctor and move to the mountains, AFTER you take a different name.

DO NOT LEAVE A FORWARDING ADDRESS, AND DESTROY ALL GPS DEVICES.

 

[Rukbat]

What, you think the NSA ain't already been in your phone (or computer, or mail, or...)?

Best thing to do...turn off your smartphone and go back to a flip phone.

NSA can get into them too.

DO NOT LEAVE A FORWARDING ADDRESS, AND DESTROY ALL GPS DEVICES.

You can't legally use a phone that doesn't have eGPS always enabled. Imagine calling 911 when you can't speak. It could save your life.

 

[ironass]

The, "potential", exploit in Android has been labelled, "Stage Fright".

For those of you worried that you may have, "Stage Fright", there is a free app on the Google Play Store that can help...

Stage Fright

 

[ironass]

For all of you that are worried about the, "potential", and "theoretical", exploit that has been named, "Stagefright", and whose existence was announced ahead of the annual Black Hat security convention, you can replace your current messaging application with the excellent Textra SMS messaging app, from the Google Play Store, which has been updated to include a fix for Stagefright...

"Protection from Stagefright! Video messages can contain an exploit called Stagefright that can harm your phone. Textra SMS protects by ensuring new video messages can not automatically run the exploit."