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Symantec Identifies Android Trojans That Mutate With Every Download
angry tapir writes "Symantec researchers have identified a new premium-rate SMS Android Trojan that modifies its code every time it gets downloaded in order to bypass antivirus detection. This technique is known as server-side polymorphism and has already existed in the world of desktop malware for many years, but mobile malware creators have only now begun to adopt it."
I had my carrier, Sprint, turn "premium rate" text messaging off completely. My phone is clean, but I don't have to worry about it anyway.
Also, it's worth noting that these guys don't need a virus to charge you for this stuff. About 2-3 times a year, I would get some charge on my bill from a joke line, horoscope line or whatever that I never signed up for through text messaging or any other way. The last time it happened, I explained to the customer service rep that I would never use this type of service and she suggested that I block it. I have not had another charge since.
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
So they've discovered polymorphic viruses? You know, like in good old days of DOS where viruses were real viruses and not simple worms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymorphic_code
Considering I don't get popups to start with. And lets look at every study done on desktop antivirus solutions and you'll find Avast and AVG tend to come pretty high up the list in hit rate and lack of false positive rate (I also think at last check avast had the fastest on access scanning).
"According to Armstrong, server-side polymorphism is not very widespread on the Android platform at the moment because most users get their apps through official channels and the current structure of the Android Market does not allow for a malware distribution scheme like this one."
While reasonably rare, iPhone viruses and malware do exist in the wild.
http://techfragments.com/news/982/Software/Apple_iPhone_Virus_Spreads_By_SMS_Messages.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/iphone-virus-botnet-bank-details,9136.html
http://www.mactrast.com/2010/07/iphone-virus-discovered-be-vigilant-and-seek-advice/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3573755?start=0&tstart=0
The ______ Agenda
http://techfragments.com/news/982/Software/Apple_iPhone_Virus_Spreads_By_SMS_Messages.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/iphone-virus-botnet-bank-details,9136.html
http://www.mactrast.com/2010/07/iphone-virus-discovered-be-vigilant-and-seek-advice/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3573755?start=0&tstart=0
1) A vulnerability with a demo. There was never any malware written to exploit it, and as it was long since fixed, there never will be.
2) Only affects jailbroken iPhones.
3) You're the victim of an APRIL FOOL! From 2 years ago!
http://vimeo.com/10587301
4) Is nothing more than a user with a problem and no tech knowledge blaming his problem on a virus. There is no virus.
While reasonably rare, iPhone viruses and malware do exist in the wild.
No they don't. At least not on non-jailbroken iPhones.
Quite a lot of people used them to donate to the Haiti Earthquake relief effort.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/HaitiEarthquake/haiti-earthquake-donations-haiti-relief-efforts-text-message/story?id=9551199#.TzAdM8XQInE
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/haiti.asp
Ceci n'est pas un sig.