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Yesterday in the BBC news, there was an item on malware apps for Android smartphones. For example, you download something that promises to save on battery power and it phones ...
- 11-08-2011 #1Linux Engineer
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Android and security
Yesterday in the BBC news, there was an item on malware apps for Android smartphones. For example, you download something that promises to save on battery power and it phones home to a premium-rated phone line and racks up an enormous bill.
I am puzzled because Android is a form of Linux, and we Linux users are always boasting about how secure Linux is and how hard it is for malware to do anything seriously harmful to your system. Why is Android so vulnerable?"I'm just a little old lady; don't try to dazzle me with jargon!"
- 11-08-2011 #2Trusted Penguin
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Because like most successful attacks, they attack the carbon interface
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- 11-09-2011 #3Linux Engineer
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I heard from a speaker in one of the forums I attended that android per se is not pure bred linux system. Linux is just deep down the system and the developers made their own android libs on top of it.
The only mobile OS that can boast of being a "pure bred" linux beast is the MEEGO. Linux from top to bottom.
- 12-03-2011 #4forum.guy
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Hazel, not sure if it has any relation to what you mentioned above, but here's more info for you regarding another security issue with some Android and other devices:
CarrierIQ Rootkit Found on Android
Statements Regarding CarrierIQ from Carriers, Device Makers
This has been getting lots of attention the last few days.oz
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- 12-03-2011 #5Super Moderator
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Android is not Linux at all. Android is powered by Linux kernel-2.6.32.9 (mine is anyway). In all actuality, Android is a complete OS much like Linux, Windows and Mac. If you download and run nefarious software on any OS, you'll get the same result. It's a bit worse with Android because of Cell phones that have GPS functions that can pinpoint your location to within a few feet.
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- 12-03-2011 #6Trusted Penguin
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Not only that, but with all of the services running for GPS, text, application updates and everything else, it's gotta be that much easier to write a piece of malware to exploit those vulnerabilities.
Add that to the fact that most smartphone users are going to tap the 'Okay' button without a second thought.Jay
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- 12-03-2011 #7Super Moderator
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You really don't even need to install anything on a cell phone. Android, Iphones and others are still being tracked without their consent.
Mall owners pull plug on cellular tracking, for nowI do not respond to private messages asking for Linux help, Please keep it on the forums only.
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