Security news updates from the last week
Android malware learns a new trick
Mobile security software and a cautious nature can help you avoid risky apps over the Android Market (Google Play). But researchers have now discovered a way to convert good apps into malicious ones via an update, after they have been installed on a device. Google’s Bouncer (software to detect threats) allows apps to add functionality through updates but seems to contain a major loophole that can be exploited.
Skype’s privacy invasion
The biggest news of the week was the revelation that Skype now records and stores user conversations. There has been a widespread furor over this piece of news because until recently, Skype was the most private and safe way for people to communicate and video chat online. Some believe that this is terrifying news, but our opinion is that it is not a big deal. All other similar services already do this, so why the outrage now? Did you really think this would never happen?
Gamigo passwords leaked
Leaking hacked passwords seems to be the flavor of the month and the latest victim is an online games publisher, Gamigo. Based in Germany, Gamigo publishes several MMORPGs. The network was hacked in March 2012 but email addresses and passwords were publicly revealed just a few days back. How many passwords you ask? 8.2 million. This is the biggest password leak of 2012 and emphasizes the prevalent risks of online services.
London 2012 Olympics scam
Facebook witnessed a scam involving the giveaway of free Olympics tickets. This is what we had predicted a few weeks back and we will be providing a follow-up of this soon. A wall post was seen on Facebook which promised free tickets. The post was linked to the domain “hllp: // liveolympictickets.com”. This page is a startling replica of the Olympics website and fools people into buying tickets and entering credit card details. Be warned; do not fall for such tricks. Moreover, latest reports show that almost 12% of the world’s spam originates in India. Yes, no other country can match that. So we advice our readers to be vigilant and careful at all times.