An Android-specific bit of malware

[Cherub (a.k.a. Steve L.)]

Compromised Yahoo accounts spread Android malware

An Android-specific bit of malware downloaded (but did not install) on my Android tablet today. My (FREE) A/V program, Lookout, detected the malware, alerted me, and deleted it.
Each of the numerous times it has downloaded today!?

Read about it at:
blog.commtouch.com/cafe/malware/compromised-yahoo-accounts-spread-android-malware/

An excerpt:
"The hacked website redirects to a distribution website. The distribution website has a hidden iframe that detects what kind of device is accessing the webpage. If the device accessing the webpage uses an android browser the user is redirected to a site and the code is injected through the device browser. The Android device then automatically downloads the malware (security.update.apk)."

[Trudy]

Thanks for posting this Steve. Who knew you needed anti-virus software for an android tablet! I've had mine for only 5 days -- but it now has "Lookout" installed and running.

THANKS!

[grega]

Hi Trudy,

What Android device are you using now (for all of 5 days)?

Any first impressions?

[Trudy]

Hi Greg,
I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 7.0 tablet. NFM had them on sale - and I looked at both the black [slate] and red. The slate was 169, the red 199 but came with a magnetic case. I wanted one different from most and got the red.
My first thought was one of frustration -- far too many typing errors using my finger. I soon bought a stylus for $10. Much better.
Many things are still confusing and some things I don't like at all. When I open Google, I don't want it to show the last place I was or whatever I last Googled.
I can't seem to mesh both my gmail & aol email addys to read it all in one place.
I opened a Google Wallet account -- and it asked for my email account and then wanted a password. Which one?? -- my email account or do I need a new one for my Wallet account?? With no help options - they now have the same password.
I'm not sure I'm a fan of it knowing where I am all the time -- or I should say, knowing where the tablet is. I turned that off, for now.
I must say that the booklet that came with the Galaxy is of very limited value.
Each night I sit and fiddle with it for a time -- I'm syncing my genealogy now, and I need to sync with my Kindle acct at Amazon.
Slowly, I'm progressing. It is an interesting piece of technology -- but certainly not a replacement for my desktop PC.

[grega]

Yes, I have similar impressions of my Toshiba Thrive android device, along with Cele's Nook tablet/e-readers (she now has 3!).

To me, tablets are not a mature technology yet, even with voice recognition technology (which has progressed a long way from 3-4 years ago).

I get frustrated by both my lack of understanding (re the OS gui & admin), AND the general limitations of a device that is so much slower for anything but "consumption" of email and media.

The most positive aspect of tablets (at this point in time) are the e-reader capabilities and to some extent, the media capabilities. I actually like the audio systems (players and bluetooth) better than the video, as I prefer the quality of a HD 23" screen more than a 7 or 10" screen. Portability is not a huge factor , as I don't do the travel/airport thing anymore. Security is also a growing concern, I hate the thought of managing that aspect now and more so down the road.

My overall favorite hardware tho, remains my Acer Timeline 14" laptop. It's almost as small and light as an Ultrabook - - but retains the 6-7 hour battery uptime, and keeps full Optical Disk capability (blueray-DVD-CD) - KDE absolutely flies on it . . . .

[Cherub (a.k.a. Steve L.)]

Trudy (and Greg),
I respectfully disagree. Although I'm still runing XP on my PCs, I've really taken to my tablet. In fact, Sunday I 'went for the extra inch' -- I bought the Samsing Galaxy Note 8 at BestBuy. I too am in major learning mode again, but impressed with new machine and software.

Trudy (and David Burke),
there's a more complete Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 manual online at Samsung.com. I printed it last August (there might be revisions since then), and it aswered many questions, as did online forums.

No, it is NOT a PC substitute, but for this retired guy, it's pretty much put my laptop 'in dock'.