malware

This app steal your photos and videos on the phone

August 8, 2016 by computerera

Even though Google scanning every app available on Play Store thoroughly, still there are few bad apps which misuse sensitive information of the users.

Symantec, the maker of Norton Antivirus, found a dangerous app named “HTML Source Code Viewer” on the Google Play Store through its Mobile Insight scanning.

The app developed by Sunuba Gaming poses as the development tool for the developers. But once it installed on our phone, it silently transfers the files stored on our phone to the remote servers.

It transfers all the files from /DCIM/Camera and /DCIM/100LGDSC folders to the remote web server located at proqnoz.info website. When Symantec explored the server, it found thousands of personal files from the Android users around the world.

Once the data collected from the user’s phones, they could be used to make ransomware attacks, blackmailing or other types of threats.

The suspected web server is maintained by Azerbaijan, and the app installed on approx. 1000 to 5000 Android phones through the Google Play Store.

Symantec submitted it’s scanning reports to Google and immediately the application was pulled down from the Google Play Store. But this is the latest example, how bad app steal our data unknowingly.

How to overcome Attention Required! One more step. Please complete the security check error

July 24, 2016 by computerera

While browsing different sites on internet people frequently facing one big issue. While we are expecting the web page, one warning message displaying on the screen like this:

Attention Required! One more step. Please complete the security check to access www.abc.com”

People are becoming panic after reading this. They are suspecting that there may be a viral infection or something else happened in their system. To some degree that is true. Here are the exact reasons for the warning message.

Nowadays DDoS attacks on the websites are rising. Therefore every site is focusing more on the site’s security. CDN (Content Delivery Network) providers like CloudFlare are offering DDoS protection services to the websites. If the website we are visiting implemented this mechanism, more likely we may come across the above warning.

But not always this happens. If the CloudFlare CDN service identifies our IP address as the suspected one, then it asks us to complete the Captcha Verification to prevent the DDoS attacks.

Because of various reasons, our public IP may become suspectable. There might be a malware infection on our computer which uses our computer like botnet to make DDoS attacks on various sites unknowingly. If that is the case, your public IP will be marked as dangerous IP on the internet. It indirectly leads to the above security checks while browsing the internet.

First of all, check your computer with any powerful antivirus software for malware infections and clean unnecessary junk files. In few cases using the alternative browser help us to overcome the issue temporarily.

Sometimes there might be a problem with the ISP (Internet Service Provider) like Airtel, BSNL, Act Fiber you are using. If everything is clean on your computer, you have to ask your ISP to check if the IP or subnet mask is blacklisted. As an Act Fiber customer living in Hyderabad and maintaining my computer in perfect condition, I never faced the issue. So by correcting the above reasons, you can also get rid of the problem.

Godless dangerous Android malware infecting through Google Play

June 24, 2016 by computerera

Godless dangerous Android malware infecting through Google Play is detected by Trend Micro, famous antivirus firm. It silently gain root access to 90% of the Android smartphones available right now in the market.

Phone users think that installing apps from official app stores like Google Play is sufficient to safeguard their devices from the viruses. But the latest malware went beyond that belief.

There are a large number of Android apps which pretending as the official versions of the popular apps on Google Play Store. They carry the same Android developer certificate of the original app. Thus they survived even with Google security checks.

People think they are downloading official app, but most of the times they end with fake apps which already modified with malicious code.

the Godless Malware works based on “Android rooting tools” framework which achieve root access to the majority of the Android devices without leaving any clue to the end user.

Once the root access gained “Godless” malware listen for the instructions from the Command and Control server operated by the hackers. It will begin to deploy unwanted programs into our Android smartphones.

So now onwards, before installing any app from trusted sources like Google Play, etc. also, it is better idea to read reviews from the other users. After examining everything, you will get confidence on those apps.

37.9 Crore Twitter Accounts Hacked

June 9, 2016 by computerera

Another security breach came into the light. Last month Linkedin, Myspace suffered from leaked accounts, and now Twitter became the target.

Tessa88, a hacker from Russia revealed that he managed to collect a cache of 379 million Twitter accounts (37.9 Crore) mail ids, usernames, and passwords.

Leakedsource site which provides reliable information on “leaked accounts” for various online platforms confirmed the leak, but it only reports that the number of compromised accounts is only 33 million.

The Russian hacker is selling the Twitter user account database for ten bitcoins, and that is equal to Rs. 3,86,745. Twitter is checking their databases with the latest security breach.

5 Best Antivirus apps for the Android users

June 9, 2016 by computerera

Security is the primary concern every mobile user has to consider. Nowadays a lot of attacks are targeting Android users. Installing powerful antivirus program is the primary measure we have to take to combat security threats. Here I’m listing five best antivirus software available for the Android users.

1. Avast Antivirus

Avast is the famous security software company that is providing antivirus software for the desktop users from a long time. Earlier Avast Mobile Security offered as Free and Paid versions, but now the company suspended the paid version and providing all the features in Free version itself. Avast offers anti-virus, trojan removal, real-time virus protection modules for the users. The software also provides app lock, Wi-Fi vulnerability scanner, unwanted call blocking features to the Android mobile users.

2. AVG Antivirus

Windows users already familiar with AVG antivirus software. The same security firm released dedicated antivirus software for the Android users. AVG comes in two different plans, and one is free, and another is Paid. The free version provides only virus detection and removal mechanism, while the paid version offers more advanced features like anti theft mode, monitoring mobile data usage, battery health reports and details about the available storage. Paid users also utilize app locking, call, message blocking, app back up and ad-free experience facilities.

3. 360 Security

360 Security is the dedicated anti-virus software available to the mobile users only. 360 Security bags more than 100 million downloads from the Play Store, it clearly indicates the popularity of this app. It comes with anti-malware, junk cleaner, battery saver, memory booster and app locking facilities. 360 Security is completely free, and there are no in-app purchases or distracting ads while using the software.

4. CM Security

Cheetah Mobile, the renowned software firm in releasing favorite Android apps offers this security software. It also comes with the anti-malware functionality along with private browsing mode, anti theft, and real-time virus protection modules. Compared to the above-mentioned security apps, CM Security is lightweight and can be used on slower smartphones. You need not pay for the app, and it is entirely free.

5. Kaspersky Internet Security

Kaspersky is one among the most popular security software available to the desktop users. The Kaspersky Android app offers anti-virus protection, phone antitheft functionality, privacy mode, Call, SMS blocking features.