Google pulls 21 Android malware apps with Trojan rootkit, over 50,000 users infected

Android logoThanks to a tip-off by a redditor, and some investigation by Android Police, Google has pulled 21 Android Market apps that were infected with a backdoor Trojan rootkit. If you downloaded any of the infected apps, they will be automatically deleted from your phone.

The attack vector was ingenious, and plays on the Android Market's biggest weakness: the almost complete absence of app moderation. The nefarious developer crafted 21 apps that share the name of legitimate apps (such as 'Chess'), and into each of them he inserted some Trojan code. The apps then quietly report your sensitive data back to a remote server, while you play with your free app.

According to Android Police, the apps include a feature that automatically roots the phone (using the well-known rageagainstthecage rooting tool), which allows it to download and execute arbitrary code. Even though Google has pulled the infected apps, these downloaded bits of code could still remain on over 50,000 infected devices. If you think you be infected, you might want to perform a factory reset.

The scary thing is, there's nothing to stop the same app publisher from creating more malware-infected apps in the future, perhaps with the grander plan of creating a botnet. That's the problem with unmoderated ecosystems like the Android Market: you have to take the good with the bad, whether you like it or not. It's a bit like the Wild West in that regard.

Google pulls 21 Android malware apps with Trojan rootkit, over 50,000 users infected originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/02/google-pulls-21-android-malware-apps-with-trojan-rootkit-over-50000-infected/

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Russia's major mobile operators join hands for unified LTE rollout

Ringo and co. said it best, and now Beeline, Megafon, MTS and Rostelekom are getting a little help from their friends. Er, friend. Or maybe it's the other way around? At any rate, the first four have just signed a deal with Yota to build out a nationwide LTE network that'll work across the board. Rather than forcing each operator to do their own thing, the four in question will now have the option to buy 25 percent stakes in Yota; according to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, this unified effort will enable Russia's economy to reap the benefits of a widespread 4G network while other nations (ahem, America) fight to see whether it'll be WiMAX or LTE taking the lead. If you'll recall, Yota was actually one of the first carriers on the planet to serve up commercial 4G, but last year it decided to make the switch from WiMAX to the suddenly popular LTE. The goal here is to have LTE in 180 cities with a total population of more than 70 million citizens by 2014, and we're told that those situated on Little Diomede may actually be the first to get LTE in Alaska. Kidding. Maybe.

Continue reading Russia's major mobile operators join hands for unified LTE rollout

Russia's major mobile operators join hands for unified LTE rollout originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYota, Reuters  | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/QH-lHmhfSCQ/

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The Winter of Our Disconnect

Many already refer to it as Snowpocalypse 2011 -- one of the biggest and baddest winters in more than 50 years. Storms have systematically worked their way across almost all of the lower 48 states since November. Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and just plain old rain delivered by wave after wave of huge storms have caused massive disruptions across two thirds of the nation.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/71977.html

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The Sixth Mass Extinction Has Begun and It's All Your Fault [Science]

Researchers at Cal Berkeley say that we—we being humans—have probably triggered the sixth mass extinction in our planet's history (the first man-made mass extinction!). Thanks to the last 500 years of over-fishing, overhunting, habitation destruction, and fossil-fuel-induced global warming, we could have the blood of over 75% of Earth's current living species on our hands. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/R6wVxSGlz84/the-sixth-mass-extinction-has-begun-and-its-all-your-fault

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Pastebin updated to V3, releases Windows app

pastebin
Pastebin is a very popular website aimed at coders and other nerdy types, which allows them (or should I say, us) to paste and share snippets of code with lovely syntax highlighting.

It has recently undergone a major overhaul which includes the release of a brand new Windows client. The new client lets you create new "pastes" and manage your existing ones. It joins a host of other tools from Pastebin, such as the Google and Chrome extensions, OS X widget and the mobile apps.

If you're currently using Pastebin, the new client is a great addition. And if you haven't tried it before, next time you have a piece of code you want to share or get some feedback on, you could do worse than try out Pastebin.

[Thanks, Jeroen!]

Pastebin updated to V3, releases Windows app originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/04/pastebin-updated-to-v3-releases-windows-app/

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Immediately Speak Another Language With the SpeechTrans Ultimate iOS App

You won’t have to worry about knowing the language when you travel with the SpeechTrans Ultimate Powered by Nuance translator app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.  This app will translate text or you can speak into the microphone and have a spoken translation in seconds in your choice of a male or female [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/03/01/immediately-speak-another-language-with-the-speechtrans-ultimate-ios-app/

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If You Bought An iPad in the Last Couple Weeks, Apple Will Give You $100 Back [Apple]

If you bought an iPad between February 16 and March 2 (a.k.a. iPad 2 reveal day), and missed out on the 14-day return window, Apple is offering a $100 refund just to show there's no hard feelings. [Cnet via Engadget] More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/2s0t6cYrOmw/if-you-bought-an-ipad-in-the-last-couple-weeks-apple-will-give-you-100-back

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LTE iPhone noise builds steam with a grain of Wang

Has it got the fourgees? Well, if you're talking about Apple's iPhone and believe what you hear from China Mobile Chairman Wang Jianzhou, it very soon will. Following in the well publicized footsteps of Verizon CEO Dan Mead, Mr. Jianzhou tells us that Steve Jobs himself "has expressed his interest in an LTE iPhone and is willing to start the development at an early date." Of course, the crux of the issue will be in ascertaining how early "an early date" might be, but it's not completely out of the realm of reason to believe that Apple may already be cranking away on an LTE-capable iPhone 5. We all know how much Steve loves to compare measurements with the competition and the iPhone's lack of a fourth G will probably be driving him mad by the time the summer rolls around. Either way, we've now got two extremely senior dudes claiming LTE is on Apple's roadmap.

LTE iPhone noise builds steam with a grain of Wang originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/grGxhEwmSDk/

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Keyboard-Friendly Robotic Hand Is Probably Harmless [Science]

One thing ever fledgling robotic killing machine needs is a good pair of hands, deft enough to type but strong enough to choke the life out of its victims. Virginia Tech's DART is a good start. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zYnFMvBf9mk/keyboard+friendly-robotic-hand-presses-all-the-right-buttons

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Gadget Lab Notes: A Camera With An Onboard Makeup Studio

Gadget Lab Notes is an eclectic roundup of gadget news briefs and intriguing products that catch our eye. Panasonic LUMIX FX77 Is a Point-And-Shoot With a Virtual Makeup Studio You?ve probably never stopped and looked at a just-taken photo on your digital camera and thought ?Gosh, I wish I?d put on a little more eyeliner??but your [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/03/gadget-lab-notes-a-camera-with-an-onboard-makeup-studio/

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