Posted on Thursday July 11, 2019
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Phys.Org: Malicious apps from a campaign called "Agent Smith" have been downloaded to 25 million Android devices, according to new research by cyber-security firm Check Point. The apps, most of them games, were distributed through third-party app stores by a Chinese group with a legitimate business helping Chinese developers promote their apps on outside platforms. Check Point is not identifying the company, because they are working with local law enforcement. About 300,000 devices were infected in the U.S. The malware was able to copy popular apps on the phone, including WhatsApp and the web browser Opera, inject its own malicious code and replace the original app with the weaponized version, using a vulnerability in the way Google apps are updated. The hijacked apps would still work just fine, which hid the malware from users. Armed with all the permissions users had granted to the real apps, "Agent Smith" was able to hijack other apps on the phone to display unwanted ads to users. That might not seem like a significant problem, but the same security flaws could be used to hijack banking, shopping and other sensitive apps, according to Aviran Hazum, head of Check Point's analysis and response team for mobile devices. There was also a "dormant" version of "Agent Smith" in 11 apps on the Play Store, which could have been triggered into action by a banner ad containing the keyword "infect." The apps have since been removed from the Play Store, but had over 10 million downloads.
Posted on Wednesday July 10, 2019
Did you know that Google offers more than just Gmail, Maps, and YouTube? A quick browse through Google Play will introduce you to a host of apps that can make your life easier. Window shopping at the Google store, however, means an inundation of productivity-destroying entertainment apps, and you probably have no time to sift through them all. But we do, so make room on your device for these four extremely useful Google tools.
Posted on Tuesday July 09, 2019
macOS Catalina is the 16th major release of Apple's operating system for Mac and Macbook. Set for rollout in late September 2019, it offers a raft of useful new features and improvements that will give users a better experience. Here's a quick look at some of them.
Posted on Tuesday July 09, 2019
We have released the July security updates to provide additional protections against malicious attackers. As a best practice, we encourage customers to turn on automatic updates. More information about this month's security updates can be found in the Security Update Guide.
Posted on Monday July 08, 2019
If you're thinking about replacing a server for your small business, then that probably means your company is experiencing success and is starting to grow. That's great news. But is it really time to invest in a new one? Or does waiting too long risk slowing your business down? Either way, it's important to consider your decision carefully. As a business owner, you should take the time to answer the following questions before deciding on your aging server.
Posted on Friday July 05, 2019
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are taking over communications in the digital age, making your office landline a thing of the past. More companies are starting to deploy VoIP because it is popular and cost-effective. What factors do you have to consider before getting your own VoIP system? Here are some tips you can use.