An Android Clickjacking

Android is considered by many to be the most popular mobile platform in the world. Consequently, it is inevitable that hackers and cybercriminals would target Android and in so doing, expose its vulnerabilities. As a result, it is apparent that Android is more and more becoming the least secure platform amongst its competitors  IT support providers and departments are able to stay on top of these security alerts by allowing users to bring their own devices (BYOD) into their secured environments. This is not an easy task to manage unless they are able to implement some type of “Sandbox” solution — previously discussed in our recent blogs.

This news doesn’t make Google look any better with Android consistently being in the news for consistently being under a wide range of attacks. The new prototype rootkit attack targets the Android framework and performs differently than other malware i.e. this platform can function without a restart, but can still hide or redirect apps.

Google’s Android remains susceptible to attack as a result of their app-marketplace restrictions — restrictions that are less secure than its rivals. For example, Apple does not allow an open market of apps, which in turn makes their devices more secure. However, Apple also has restricted Flash on its devices and this causes some issues with malware.

With the new rootkit, cybercriminals have the capability of taking advantage by creating malware that mimics applications that look legitimate to users. A user may think they’re installing one application but instead they are actually installing the fraudulent malware. This activity is commonly referred to as “clickjacking.” When this malware gets installed, it can allow the cybercriminal to steal passwords, session keys, and even worse — your banking information.  It also has the ability of hiding and/or replacing all of your apps on your device.

Talk to your IT consulting company or IT department more about keeping your Android secure at all times. There are some greatsecurity applications that can be installed to prevent malware from entering your device. Keep in mind that since these devices are popular you probably want to keep up with the latest news on malware for Androids. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you up to date right here!

Written by IT Support and IT Consulting Professionals at FedSolutions.  Thanks for stopping by!