Security Experts point to new vulnerability in Android Apps

At a time, when Android users are finding it increasingly difficult for Android users to protect their phones, Riley Hassell, the founder of Privateer Labs, and colleague Shane Macaulay have some more discerning news. The duo informs that there are even more ways hackers can infiltrate Android devices.

The security experts claim to have identified more than a dozen popular Android apps that make phones a target for hackers. The primary reason for this vulnerability, according to the experts, is the inability or carelessness of developers to follow security guidelines when they write apps, leaving phones open for attack.

One of the most common security gap, enlisted by the experts is – some apps exposing themselves to outside contact. If these apps are vulnerable, then an attacker can remotely compromise that app (which means the phone) using something as simple as a text message.

The android vulnerability discussed here is in line with the latest reports concerning Androids’ susceptibility to hackers and malware (ranges from viruses like “HippoSMS” that cause smartphones to text premium numbers to rack up charges, to privacy invaders like “Golddream.A” that actually record user’ phone calls and upload conversations to remote servers controlled by hackers). In March this year, Antivirus company Kaspersky identified 70 types of Android malware; which appeared to be growing fats with the proliferation of Android devices. Back in September 20101 this count was just 2.

What is recommended?

These malicious self executing programs or viruses come attached to the applications which users download from the Android Market. The best way to avoid such infections is to carefully self monitor what you are downloading or by installing an antivirus app. But if hackers begin exploiting already downloaded apps, defending Android phones from malware may get a lot more difficult. According to Hassell, hackers could enter some of the already installed apps as well.

Hassell has conveyed his findings to Google. A spokesman for Google said the company had spoken with Hassell and found none of the problems to be an issue with the Android operating system itself.
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