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More Than 1 Million Android Devices Rooted By Gooligan Malware (onthewire.io)
Reader Trailrunner7 writes: A new version of an existing piece of malware has emerged in some third-party Android app stores and researchers say it has infected more than a million devices around the world, giving the attackers full access to victims' Google accounts in the process. The malware campaign, known as Gooligan, is a variant of older malware called Ghost Push that has been found in many malicious apps. Researchers at Check Point recently discovered several dozen apps, mainly in third-party app stores, that contain the malware, which is designed to download and install other apps and generate income for the attackers through click fraud. The malware uses phantom clicks on ads to generate revenue for the attackers through pay-per-install schemes, but that's not the main concern for victims. The Gooligan malware also employs exploits that take advantage of several known vulnerabilities in older versions of Android, including Kit Kat and Lollipop to install a rootlet that is capable of stealing users' Google credentials.Although the malware has full remote access to infected devices, it doesn't appear to be stealing user data, but rather is content to go the click-fraud route. Most users are being infected through the installation of apps that appear to be legitimate but contain the Gooligan code, a familiar infection routine for mobile devices.
I'd rather download Ginger or Mary Ann malware.
Here I sit w/ my beloved Asus ME302C, complete abandonware for over 3 years now. Everything runs fine, it can handle all updated apps, browsers, Chromecast, and so on. Just no way, other than convoluted roothacking and Cyanogen installation, to update the Android OS itself.
Can I sue Asus for this? (rhetorical question)
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
I don't have or want a smartphone, but I have a friend who recently had to get one (so he didn't end up with a shitty phone with a screen too small to read) and it's Android; I see there is at least one anti-malware solution out there for Android phones, but knowing little-to-nothing about Android, could I please get suggestions for an effective anti-malware solution for Android phones? Thanks.
Successful parasites do not kill their host - if they do that, they have to find another host. The successful ones minimize their impact on the host, using them as a free ride to other opportunities which they can exploit. Sometimes this even develops into a symbiotic relationship.
If the malware doesn't steal user data, the user has no incentive to detect and remove it. Much to the consternation of the ad networks which are the real targets. I wouldn't be surprised if the next step is for this malware to install patches to fix vulnerabilities in the OS, to prevent other less well-thought-out malware from being installed and eventually getting the frustrated user to wipe and reset the phone.
Certain links if you have turned off the default security setting that only allows apps to come from the trusted store sure. And even the summary says none of these came from the Play Store. So - people attempting to pirate $1.99 apps or people foolish enough to use the Amazon app store which also requires you to turn off the security setting. Yes, cheapskates. Normal users have nothing to worry about here.
A tale of a malware app
That exposed Google accountholders
Using Android smartphone crap.
Wow. Crap.
Asus is a long-renowned motherboard vendor, a major PC vendor and I somehow thought they would know a bit about support. They know things about firmware and user-facing documentation and downloads. It's no surprise the Android crap division doesn't support their products, I guess everyone may know it by inquiring a little on the internets but if Asus won't support their hardware, who will with their own? It's like a tragedy of commons, not quite the right term but I wonder how you should call it, where everyone does the same as the very low or negative margins depend on it (and thus whatever accounting salads and stock market things). So, no one makes a move. Some might expect 3 years of updates / support to be reasonable, and I dare say 5 years is more reasonable still for the consumer.
The irony (flame about misuse of 'irony') is Asus sells graphics cards at a +10% margin next to their competitors, just because. Now perhaps the Android hardware industry can grow up a bit : 16nm or 14nm SoC going mainstream, USB-C, UFS flash memory, RAM sizes similar to low end PC, this is somewhat laptop class hardware. I think we can pay +10%, +20% whatever for 5 years of support meaning basic security (and 5 years is compromising much. You can be current on a PC from 1999 or 2001)
https://gooligan.checkpoint.com/
You're welcome.
A cheap Windows tablet with about the same hardware would do about the job with a decade of updates, me think. But Windows is free as beer for 7.9 inches and under, is that it? As if a dealer pushing one free serving of dope.
The post says "Researchers at Check Point recently discovered several dozen apps, mainly in third-party app stores, that contain the malware".
Does that mean there are some apps infected with this in the Google app store as well?
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But then I repeat myself. -- Mark Twain