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Google: BadNews Malware Wasn't Really Bad, After All

Posted by Unknown on from the mundane-bad-news dept.

chicksdaddy writes "When reports surfaced about 'BadNews,' a new family of mobile malware that affected Google Android devices the news sounded — well — bad. BadNews was described by Lookout Mobile Security as a new kind of mobile malware for the Android platform-one that harness mobile ad networks to push out malicious links, harvest information on compromised devices and more. Now, six weeks later, a senior member of Google's Android security team claims that BadNews wasn't really all that bad, after all. Speaking at an event in Washington D.C. sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission, Google employee and Android team member Adrian Ludwig threw cold water on reports linking BadNews to sites that installed malicious programs. The search giant, he said, had not found any evidence linking BadNews to so-called SMS 'toll fraud' malware."

4 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. And what else did you expect? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This just in: Vendor claims malware isn't as bad as people say. Film at 11.

    Did anyone really expect them to say different?

    1. Re:And what else did you expect? by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 2

      Now, come on. All Google is saying is that it isn't all BadNews ;-)

      All malware is bad. Sure, it could be catastrophic, but it could also just serve as a trojan for other pieces of malware. This one doesn't turn out to be as bad as the press makes it sound (big surprise), and Google claims it isn't anything much to worry about (another big surprise). So we know that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

      Maybe if we told you the "bad" news in a "good" way...

      --
      They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
    2. Re:And what else did you expect? by stephanruby · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Did anyone really expect them to say different?

      I didn't.

      The application asked for permission to send sms (and potentially cost you money).

      It's not malware if it tells you exactly what it's going to do, and then does it with your explicit permission (not that it even did that since it was only a proof-of-concept app). It's only a malware app if someone else has temporary possession of your phone, plus its pin number, and then installs the application just to cause you harm without you knowing.

      And this is actually nothing new to Android users.

  2. but but but... by ADRA · · Score: 3, Funny

    How can we flame you if there's no story!! Wahh!

    --
    Bye!