Most Android phones can be hacked with one text

[BrandonSheley]

Found this on cnet tonight..

The Android text-message vulnerability is one doozy of a hack. All is takes is one text message with a video or photo laced with malicious code, and hackers can gain control of your phone. Google has a fix for all Android phone makers, but a big question remains: How long before every Android phone gets the patch?

 

[PoetJC]

Hmmmm. In such circumstances it's actually a good thing to virtually have no life at all?... LMAO.
I'm not even sure why I splurged on the Galaxy S6 --- The most I've ever used my phone is probably this evening - texting a handful of freeeks ((no offense meant of course - 'cause I'm a freeeeeeeeek yehehehe)) that wanna get it on. I probably should text them that if indeed they feel they can hack it ==> It'd be a much more intuitively wonderful experience if they were to come knock on the literal door?

But wow. Seriously thanks for the info. I wonder though BrandonSheley (hope you and yours are doing well btw!) Do apps like Avast security help protect against potential hacking?

J.

 

[/dev/urandon]

But wow. Seriously thanks for the info. I wonder though BrandonSheley (hope you and yours are doing well btw!) Do apps like Avast security help protect against potential hacking?

It's snake oil.

My phone is so old they'll never make a patch for it. I hate this pay to upgrade trap they've turned phones and computers into and I refuse to play ball. Just don't be an idiot and keep stuff on your phone that you can be blackmailed with and you're fine.

 

[LeadCrow]

This shi tzu is making me reconsider feature phones again. Cheap, long battery, no hacking or permission leaks.

 

[doubt]

And now the IOS fanboi's will jump on about how insecure Android is.. not mentioning that IOS had it's own "Ah Sh*t" moment with messages recently.

For Apple how long did it take to send out a patch to the iOS users?

Zimperium said it discovered the issue in April and promptly informed Google.

It's late July now and Google is blaming the phone makers to be late with the patches:

To compound the threat to Android devices, Google is largely powerless when it comes to actually getting patches to users. Phone makers including Samsung, LG and Huawei, as well as wireless carriers, all have control over how updates are sent to products.

 

[GTB]

Bet they can't hack mine, it doesn't even have internet access features.

 

[Jake]

If it's typical Verizon, they have to test it - then cram all their crap into the OS then test it again, then scratch their butt a couple of times (guess they sniff in between)

And if it's part of the droid lineup they repeat this process for nearly a year after it is released to update a brand new phone to android 5

 

[rMBP]

All I have to say is Scroogled!

 

[PoetJC]

It's snake oil.

My phone is so old they'll never make a patch for it. I hate this pay to upgrade trap they've turned phones and computers into and I refuse to play ball. Just don't be an idiot and keep stuff on your phone that you can be blackmailed with and you're fine.

My Mom taught me to say/do things in private that I am unafraid of having broadcasted to the world and vice verse. I've generally stuck to that tenant - even though she tells me that 'being too honest' is simultaneously my weakest AND strongest attributes ... So I suppose I've kinda migrated that thinking to my phone. Do I have a handful of pics that probably shouldn't be broadcast to the world? I sure do, but am generally not embarrassed by them. So I don't keep them on my phone if that makes any difference LMAO. And now the thought of getting a dedicated USB stick for the risque stuff is pervasive

J.

 

[davemacc]

Simple to secure your phone........

What to do?

• Try asking your device vendor whether a patch is available already. You may be able to get ahead of the game.
• If you can't get a patch right now, find out when to expect it so that you can apply it as soon as you can.
• If your messaging app supports it (Messaging and Hangouts both do), turn off Automatically retrieve MMS messages.
• If your device supports it, consider blocking messages from unknown senders if you haven't already.
• If your SMS/MMS app doesn't allow you to turn off Automatically retrieve messages, consider simply switching back to Android Messaging, which does.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/07/28/the-stagefright-hole-in-android-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[Amaury]

Good thing I don't use Android. However, it's not really a surprise.

 

[BrandonSheley]

Good thing I don't use Android. However, it's not really a surprise.

I'm not surprised you're not using Android as well.

small world

 

[dsacks6]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, this hasn't actually effected anyone yet. Rather it has served to get OEM's and Google making all sorts of promises about monthly security updates. Additionally, its provided lots of clicks of tech sites.