Android Malware May Have Infected 5 Million Users

bonch writes "A massive Android malware campaign may be responsible for duping as many as 5 million users into downloading the Android.Counterclan infection from the Google Android Market. The trojan collects the user's personal information, modifies the home page, and displays unwanted advertisements. It is packaged in 13 different applications, some of which have been on the store for at least a month. Several of the malicious apps are still available on the Android Market as of 3 P.M. ET. Symantec has posted the full list of infected applications."

Re:Google Needs To Get Their Ass In Gear

[Anonymous Coward]

AC [slashdot.org] writes:

Nerds seeking a feeling of control in their lives turn to computers. They hate the idea of appliances, because the feeling of mastery over something gives them a sense of control that they lack in their daily lives.

bonch [slashdot.org] writes:

I think some of the Apple hatred stems from the fact that many techies absorb themselves in computers because it gives them a feeling of control that they lack in their daily lives. Mastering a system is gratifying on many levels.

Overly Critical Guy [slashdot.org] writes:

I think the cause of reactions like yours is that some people don't have control in their lives, so they seek it in PCs, because mastering the upkeep required for a PC gives you that missing feeling of control. Having that feeling taken away from you by non-PCs threatens you on a core level, reminding you of the lack of control in your real life, so you snap back to protect it.

You don't even really try, do you?

Re:Google Needs To Get Their Ass In Gear

[fluffy99]

Perhaps Symantec are flagging it as malware because it is using permissions that the app clearly does not need, and it is just some rookie developer that has permission code copied in from some other site?

You could try clicking the link in the article and see why. http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2012-012709-4046-99&tabid=2 [symantec.com]

Or just be lazy like the rest of the slashdot heard.

Re:Google Needs To Get Their Ass In Gear

[stephanruby]

No, it's flagging it as "Malware" because it wants to you do the following [symantec.com] as their solution for removing the so-called "Malware". Note how they conveniently left the simplest instructions for uninstalling the application all the way at the bottom of the page (where almost no one will see it).

Re:Apple Haters ignore the fact they are more guil

[tlhIngan]

HTC makes all of their premium Android phones in Taiwan. The workplace standards are of course much higher there compared to Mainland China. Samsung, on the other hand uses a number of factories, including ones in South Korea and China to make their flagship Galaxy SII phones.

I just checked my Galaxy Nexus. It says "Made in China", so I'm guessing it's probably a safe assumption it's made at Foxconn.

And while HTC's premium flagship phones are made in Taiwan, I'd guess most of the rest of them are made in Foxconn (for every flagship, there's probably dozens more of the lowend phones sold).

Re:Indirectly related, but...

[purpledinoz]

Root your phone and use Droid Firewall. All apps by default have no network permissions. Once it's setup, it works really well.