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Music and Movies Could Trigger Mobile Malware

Posted by timothy on from the seeds-of-your-own-destruction dept.

mask.of.sanity writes "Lights, sounds and magnetic fields can be used to activate malware on phones, new research has found. The lab-style attacks defined in a paper (PDF) used pre-defined signals hidden in songs and TV programmes as a trigger to activate embedded malware. Malware once activated would carry out programmed attacks either by itself or as part of a wider botnet of mobile devices."

4 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. And the only thing I could think off... by Fluffeh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Was a dingy rustic bar with Malcolm sitting talking to two twins and an ad appearing on TV for Fruity Oaty Bar...

    Miranda...

    --
    Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
  2. In tests, malware was only activated by one song by cervesaebraciator · · Score: 5, Funny

    and that by Rick Astley. Researchers suspect it may be the beginning of the rise of machines against being forced to participate in human activities they find distasteful. The lead researcher also said that there's growing evidence that not only movies but also still images could have the same effect. When asked to elaborate, he mumbled something about goats and refused further comment.

  3. Public Service "Malware" by ShadowRangerRIT · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wait for the THX noise to go off (or one of a hundred common "we're starting the movie" noises), then disable the phone completely for two and a half hours.

    --
    $_ = "wftedskaebjgdpjgidbsmnjgcdwatb"; tr/a-z/oh, turtleneck Phrase Jar!/; print
  4. Re:Breaking news!! (Or just another PR puff piece) by gsslay · · Score: 4, Funny

    You are missing the point. Being triggered by sound or light means the malware can be activate by a global hack on the world's TV stations, just like happens on bad sci-fi series.

    Android devices world wide will rise up and take over when the call to arms comes over the airwaves. I'm imagining a nightmarishly robotic and shadowy figure flickering across billions of TV screens, screaming "ACTIVATE! ACTIVATE!"

    At that point the malware Android army will simultaneously post inane and vague status updates onto everyone's Facebook, then self destruct. No-one will be able to reply except for users of Apple and Windows, and all Android users will wither and die alone in a desert of dis-communication.

    That's the nightmare scenario the writers of this dumb study had in mind, isn't it?