Numerous websites found to contain malware specifically targeting Android devices
Numerous websites found to contain malware specifically targeting Android devices
Hacked websites are frequently used to infect PCs with malware, however the team at Lookout Mobile Security has discovered that hacked websites are specifically targeting Android-powered mobile devices for the first time. The malware, called NotCompatible, is a Trojan that poses as a system update but acts like a proxy redirect. After visiting an infected website, the Android mobile web browser will automatically begin downloading the NotCompatible malware, which is named “Update.apk.” Like any drive-by downloads, to become infected a user needs to install the downloaded application. The malware is found on a number of websites, but all have relatively low traffic. Lookout notes that the threat does not appear to cause any direct harm to an infected device, although it could potentially be used to gain illicit access to private networks by turning an infected Android device into a proxy. If an Android device has the “Unknown sources” settings disabled — thus disabling sideloading — the NotCompatible malware will be unable to install. More →
