Word on the street is that Android is sick. There is a virus circulating through Android’s link with Facebook. There is cause for concern but understand it is not any different from the way other viruses work. This virus hides out in a “friend request” and is anything but friendly. Once you click on the “friend request” of the unknown user it then automatically downloads the virus immediately. The download is from a source outside of the Google Android Market but has similar extensions as apps on the marketplace.
Google and Android has a software called Bouncer that has been set up to protect the marketplace from malicious software, but we all know time is all it takes and this virus got behind the Bouncer security. Bouncer software is different than the app by the same name. The software is automatically part of the Google and Android OS. Android users understand your phone is sent out with settings that prevent third party apps from downloading automatically but if you turn that setting off, to allow access to apps outside of the app marketplace you can leave your phone or tablet vulnerable. The virus shows up as “any_name.apk” and more recently “allnew.apk”. The latest virus may just be a spruced up version of the first but either way it is just as bad.
What does the virus do? Well consider this, you may have an unlimited calling and data plan, but that doesn’t prevent premium rate numbers from being charged. This virus sends text messages to premium rate phone numbers and leave you with the bill. The way the virus is set up these numbers are texted and you and your carrier ends up paying the scammers through your account to their remote website. It seems the app associates itself to the Opera Browser but not exclusive to just that browser on the Android OS.
Thanks to Sophos for discovering this virus. Sophos is a security firm that actually came across the malware after receiving the very “friend request” that had the embedded virus within. The best way to protect yourself is the obvious, if you do not know the friend making the request do not accept. The toughest part is being curioius and feeling like you need to check the friend but now it can cause you and cost you big!
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