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Porn-themed Android Ransomware Takes Your Picture Before Asking For Money
An anonymous reader writes with a link to The Stack's report that researchers at security firm zScaler have spotted a clever new variety of Android-based ransomware, which takes advantage of phones' built-in cameras to add a personal touch; it activates the camera to take a snapshot of the user, which is then incorporated into its blackmail note. "The crudely-planned app features an extraordinarily demanding privacy/functionality swap at install, and proceeds to demand a $500 'FBI fine' via PayPal, rather than any of the cryptocurrencies which most ransomware authors currently favour."
They'd send me money and tell me to go see a plastic surgeon.
A Paypal account? Paypal locks your account if you so much as blink too fast or too slow. They're never going to see the money. Plus, what is their plan for getting the money out? Having Paypal mail them a check?
I read the internet for the articles.
I'm not sure I get this. Who's walking around with a phone that they're not prepared to wipe at a moment's notice anyway?
Everyone else on the planet.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Perhaps parents whose recent photos of their child haven't yet been backed up? Someone who simply doesn't want to go through the hassle? Can we assume that quite a majority of users don't use their devices in the most perfectly organized manner possible?
"You should always be prepared to wipe" is not an excuse for the poor security that comes standard on many phones. I see tons of complaints here about how crappy the Apple and Microsoft walled-gardens are. Which I agree with. But instead of the same comments lambasting that approach, I'd like to see insightful conversations focusing on securing Android and making the iOS/Windows approaches more flexible.
All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
Good point. I wipe my phone after every porn viewing session. I learned that lesson the hard way. It ain't no fun getting an earful of goo.
The VAST majority of smartphone users.
Exactly. They are smartphone users not smart phone users.