Android malware spreads via Facebook

[Jack]

If you're using Facebook on your Android smartphone, you should be just as careful clicking on links as you would (hopefully) be on a desktop computer.

A few days ago I received a Facebook friend request and, as is usual, used my Android smartphone to check out the details of the person before I decided whether I wanted to become "friends" or not.

As the following video demonstrates, a link on the user's Facebook profile redirected my browser to a webpage that downloaded malware automatically onto my Android phone

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=JPlJrB652w8[/video]

Read more ; http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/02/24/android-malware-facebook/

 

[Jack]

It was malware.... LOL ... Are you sure ? with a name like any_name.apk ? Could a link that you got from a Facebook spam profile lead to malware?
Nevertheless , I know what you should do ... Start installing the any_name.apk app , even if you don't know what it is and approve all the permissions that it ask (yes, even allow it to send premium messages) .....
Oh wait you've got the Sophos AV.... oh yes , you're safe ... from yourself.

 

[WinAndLinuxTutorials]

lol even you are much safer if you don't allow installs from unknown sources. Just make sure that "Unknown Sources" is unchecked. It is not easy at all to silently install an application on Android.

 

[Valentin N]

It depends what kind of malware it is but I generally think an IS version is needed since android OS is getting very popular which makes them a wonderful target for malware writers. A malware that makes you send sms every five minutes would dangerous in that sense that it will give the user a huge phone bill. So it's a risk. The malware is not ransonware but malware due to its action it performs.

I see no harm in having AV/(IS version) for android. AV/IS is not needed if you surf safe, even on windows there is no need for AV but it's a good to know that you are somehow guarded against infections. It will give you peace in mind.

 

[Vextor]

I'm not really that bothered about Android Malware. Unless it becomes as bad as Windows, it's not that big of a problem.
I would use one if I had an Android, so long as it is free, cause it's not worth to pay for one. Unless it becomes as bad as Windows, free AV's are good enough for most people.

 

[jamescv7]

Well there will be nothing loss if you use AV in Android since its always up to date for in the wild list of Android Malware. Some AV's does not consume much in battery.

 

[Justin]

I simply chose to keep my android safe without an av as you can simply use some common sense by not installing untrusted applications & games