Number:IRCNE2014052182
Date: 2014-05-05
According to “computerworld”, a piece of malware targeting Russian-speaking Android users abuses a person's contact list to try and infect other devices, according to security vendor Eset.
The malware, call "Android/Samsapo.A" can download other malicious files to a phone, steal personal information from a device such as text messages and block phone calls, wrote Robert Lipovsky, an Eset malware researcher. The malware uploads data to a domain that was registered about a week ago.
Samsapo spreads by sending text messages from an infected device to other people in the victim's contact list, a worm-like characteristic that has been used by other mobile malware programs.
The text message says "Is this your photo?" in Russian and has a link to an AndroidA application package (.APK). A file containing a copy of Samsapo.
Android will warn users when downloading applications from unknown sources. Google scans its Play store for malicious applications, which reduces the chance a user will download a malicious one.
Security experts generally recommend not downloading Android applications from third-party websites, as even legitimate looking applications may have been maliciously modified. Also, applications that ask for permissions such as reading and writing text messages should be viewed with caution.
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