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New type of auto-rooting Android adware is nearly impossible to remove (Link only due to copyright)
Ars Technica — LINK ONLY | Nov 4, 2015 2:15pm PST | by Dan Goodin -

Posted on 11/04/2015 4:25:29 PM PST by Swordmaker

This is a bad Android Root Kit baddy. . . as the headline says, it is almost impossible to remove from Android devices. More information at Ars Technica's site (link only due to copyright concerns):

New type of auto-rooting Android adware is nearly impossible to remove


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: android; malware

1 posted on 11/04/2015 4:25:29 PM PST by Swordmaker
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To: Swordmaker

“After the apps are downloaded from Google Play, they’re repackaged with the malicious code and distributed on third-party websites. Lookout is seeing the highest number of detections in the US, Germany, Iran, Russia, India, Jamaica, Sudan, Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia. The report is the latest to underscore the risks of using third-party markets. There are no indications that any of the trojanized apps have made their way into Google Play. “

This is not a huge issue, for people using non-Apple phones if they don’t use third-party markets.


2 posted on 11/04/2015 4:30:57 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
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To: ThunderSleeps; dayglored; ShadowAce; ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; ...
Another Android malware. . . this one is a bad one already in the wild. It's a root kit that masquerades as well known Android Apps and is almost impossible to remove once it's installed. Link only due to copyright infringement issues with Ars Technica. Apple users who have elected to use Android Mobile devices take warning. -- PING!

Ping to dayglored, ThunderSleeps, and Shadow Ace for your ping lists!


Android Malware Root Kit
Masquerades as genuine Apps
Ping!

The Latest Apple/Mac/iOS Pings can be found by searching Keyword "ApplePingList" on Freerepublic's Search.

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

3 posted on 11/04/2015 4:32:05 PM PST by Swordmaker ( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue....)
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To: Swordmaker

I’ll bet if you logged in as root yourself, you could remove them.

But apparently, in Android the owner of the phone isn’t allowed to log in as root and fix problems. Who designed this wonderful operating system?


4 posted on 11/04/2015 4:32:29 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
This is not a huge issue, for people using non-Apple phones if they don’t use third-party markets.

EXACTLY!!!! Just say NO to non-Google Play App stores. . .

5 posted on 11/04/2015 4:33:45 PM PST by Swordmaker ( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue....)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Apple has the same issue, don’t use third party sites and download apps from websites.


6 posted on 11/04/2015 5:10:49 PM PST by dila813
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To: Swordmaker

Or, know your repository before side-loading. Lots of good FOSS out there without the tracking that comes through Google Play.


7 posted on 11/04/2015 5:28:23 PM PST by FourPeas ("Maladjusted and wigging out is no way to go through life, son." -hg)
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To: 109ACS; aimhigh; bajabaja; Bikkuri; Bobalu; Bookwoman; Bullish; Carpe Cerevisi; DarthDilbert; ...
Upshot, be extremely careful about where you load your apps from... - ANDROID PING!

Android Ping!
If you want on or off the Android Ping List, Freepmail me.

8 posted on 11/04/2015 6:41:28 PM PST by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: proxy_user

Can’t root your Android? Apparently?

lol


9 posted on 11/05/2015 1:50:31 AM PST by dila813
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To: proxy_user
But apparently, in Android the owner of the phone isn’t allowed to log in as root and fix problems.

Then how does the nasty get access? I could see this being a problem if the user rooted his Android device, but if not...

10 posted on 11/05/2015 6:54:54 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is simply majoritarianism. It is incompatible with real freedom.)
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To: proxy_user
But apparently, in Android the owner of the phone isn’t allowed to log in as root and fix problems. Who designed this wonderful operating system?

You can, but that requires a lot more knowledge and skills than most people have. Not something your random everyday user can do.
11 posted on 11/05/2015 8:27:17 AM PST by Svartalfiar
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To: Svartalfiar

You can actually get a command line on Android, and issue commands as root?


12 posted on 11/05/2015 8:41:16 AM PST by proxy_user
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To: Swordmaker

The key word is “almost” impossible to remove. Find out who can remove it and is making money doing so and ten to one, you’ve got the creator.


13 posted on 11/05/2015 11:01:44 AM PST by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: proxy_user
You can actually get a command line on Android, and issue commands as root?

Both from a computer adb interface, or you can download a terminal app, running straight on the phone. With root. However, if you get the malware, I would hazard a guess that it would be smart enough to block, or at least back itself up (similar to the sys files in the factory reset), removal of itself via command line.

And of course, anyone smart enough to do that (much less actually modify files to fix the problem) likely already has the knowledge/ability to reflash the ROM anyway.
14 posted on 11/07/2015 5:31:30 PM PST by Svartalfiar
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