Android App Mutates Source Code, Spreads Virally and Enables Mesh Networks (thestack.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Researchers from the Delft University of Technology have developed a self-replicating, mutating Android app which can create on-the-fly mesh networks in the event of an infrastructural disaster, or the enabling of internet kill switches by oppressive regimes. The app's source is available at GitHub, and the app itself requires no root privileges to propagate. It can self-compile while it mutates — for example, from a game to a calculator — in transit from one Android device to another, and compatibility with iOS and Windows phones is anticipated.

Comments

I've seen this movie.

[fahrbot-bot]

If I recall, this is how SkyNet gets started ...

i don't think that word means what you think

[Anonymous Coward]

It seems like by "mutation" they mean that the end user can change the app's icon and apparent purpose via a menu. By "virus" they mean that the user can send the app to another phone so that another user can install it (by sideloading). There are no genetic algorithms or hanky self-propogations here.

Re:i don't think that word means what you think

[nickweller]

Technical facts don't count, what they've managed to do is get self-replicating virus and Android into the one sentence.

viral uucp

[dpreformer]

So is this a viral uucp for android? uucp over wi-fi and/or LTE.

Re:and how does it get on?

[Anonymous Coward]

It doesn't. The summary makes this app sound like some kind of worm or trojan but it is neither. This is "propagated" by deliberate peer to peer transfer via Android Beam or sideloading. The purpose is to provide killswitch-proof and jackboot-resistant mesh networking for hippies/activists/terrorists.

Re:Isn't that how Skynet was started?

[konohitowa]

Do we want to take bets as to how long before it becomes self-aware?

Put me down for "Never". Unfortunately, I'll also never see the payout.

Re:and how does it get on?

[vtcodger]

I'm sure that buried in the terms and conditions is a clause that forbids its use by terrorists.

Re:Oh wonderful

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

What could possibly go wrong?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing could possibly go wrong with a piece of rogue software that mutates, spreads virally, and creates its own mesh network. I'm also convinced that no one would ever misuse something like this for something nefarious. People just aren't like that.