Android factory reset not enough to keep data secure

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

If you sell or gift your old Android phone to someone, is it enough to do a factory reset to wipe all your sensitive data? And if your Android gets stolen, how sure are you that your anti-theft solution will do a good job wiping it and/or locking the device? Consumers ...

Malware Is Still Spying On You Even When Your Mobile Is Off

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Most of us have seen Hollywood movies where hackers trace and spy on mobile devices even though they are switched off. Like most things in spy movies, we disregard it as fiction. However, recent malware discovered by the AVG mobile security team may change this preconception. This malware hijacks the shutting down ...

The Great SIM Heist: How Spies Stole the Keys to the Encryption Castle

Thursday, February 19th, 2015

AMERICAN AND BRITISH spies hacked into the internal computer network of the largest manufacturer of SIM cards in the world, stealing encryption keys used to protect the privacy of cellphone communications across the globe, according to top-secret documents provided to The Intercept by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. The hack ...

Simplocker Android ransomware variant identified, tougher to decrypt files

Tuesday, February 10th, 2015

A new and improved variant of Simplocker ransomware for Android devices is currently being distributed, according to Avast. When Simplocker was first identified in June 2014, it was considered possibly the first ransomware for Android devices that encrypts files. However, the encryption key was hardcoded inside the malware and was not ...

Study Uncovers 40,000 Malicious Mobile Banking Apps

Thursday, January 22nd, 2015

Mobile banking is an increasingly popular way to stay on top of one’s finances, with the ability to check balances, transfer money and even deposit checks virtually. Unfortunately, the sector is also a rich tapestry of criminal activity, with 11% of mobile banking apps categorized as “suspicious.” According to research findings ...