Google Play Store Apps filled with Malware, Are You Safe?

Android smartphone users are being warned about over a dozen apps found on Google Play Store that are filled with malware.

Android fans have been put on alert a number of apps on Google Play Store are loaded with malicious software.

Android is one of the most used piece of software in the world. The hugely popular OS has also been subject to a number of high profile security scare the biggest of which being the Judy malware campaign.

That saw up to 36.5million Android smartphone users infected by over 41 apps on Google Play Store.

Android fans are being warned about Google Play Store security scare. Experts have warned that 13 malware filled apps found on Google Play Store have been installed on more than half a million Android devices.

Lukas Stefanko, an IT security researcher with ESET, discovered the malware was found on a number of Android diving game apps.

He tweeted: "Don't install these apps from Google Play - it's malware

"Details: 14 apps, all together 560,000+ installs, after launch hide itself icon, download additional APK and make user install it (unavailable now), 2 apps are #Trending no legitimate functionality, reported."

Stefanko also published a video showing one affending app being installed on android device. When Stefanko tries to open it the app shows a logo for game graphics engine but then after that display a blank screen. And after existing the app the icon for it no longer appears.

Stefanko also tweeted: "Downloaded APK is called Game Center.

"These app os downloaded in the background and requestes user to install it.

Once lanched it hide itself & display ads when device is unlocked."

Responding to the findings, Will LaSaka director of security solutions at OneSpan, said,"Application repackaging has been on the rise for a while now.

"Earlier this year it was reported that applications were being hijacked to install cryptocurrency miners.

"We saw a decline in these attacks when govt started to address the cryptocurrency conversion process and made it harder for anonymous people to cash out.

"However these repackage attacks did not stop instead they got sophisticated and refocused on other valuable data that can be converted to money just as quickly.

"Now repackaging attacks make common or simple apps into nefarious playload delievery applcations.

This allows hackers to get other malware onto victims phones without their knowledge and often by combining screen overlay attacks to help trick users into installing these newly downloaded malware playloads. These malware apps focus on harveting credentials and injecting libraries that can cause applications to deliever sensitive information directly into the hands of the hakers."

Most popular browser about to get even better

World's most popular browser about to get even better

Google Chrome the world's most popular browser will soon getting better.

Google Chrome is about to get a big update which will make the world most internet browser better for its many users.

Search engine Google are already working on the ad blocking update which will be out soon for chrome users.

And a game changing update will mute auto play videos is also getting released Google Chrome user in January 2018.

But ahead of these new features launching Chrome users will also be able to download another big update in next few weeks.

The next version for Google Chrome is arriving on October 2017 and then a week later the update for Chrome OS will drop.

When that happens users will see "Not Secure" warning in the Google Chrome browser address bar for certain websites.

This warning will appear in two different scenarios.

• Users will be altered if you start entering data on a site which does not encrypted your connection.

This means that it does not scramble the data between it and a browser and puts you at risk from hackers seeing everything you do.
The new features extends a protection that Google first added back in January according to Yahoo.
Google Chrome protection ensured a "not secure" flag appeared on pages that accepted passwords or credit card details without encrypt ions.
The "not secure" warning will also appear when a chrome user visits an encrypted site while in incognito mode.
New version of Google Chrome will show the same warning for any site lacking encryption but in an attention grabbing red.
According to NetMarketShare , Google Chrome has a staggering 59.61 percent share of the browser market.
Its nearest challenge internet Explorer has 14.18 percent share of the browser market share.

The Google Chrome security boost follows on from the announcement last month that the browser from January 2018 will not auto play videos which have any sound.

Google said update also means that auto play videos will only be played in Chrome when a user has shown an interest in that type of media.
The changes will be included in Chrome 64 and will benefit desktop and mobile users.

The news was revealed in by Mounir Lamouri a software engineer at Google in Chromium blog post.

He said,  " Users watch and listen to a lot of media and auto play can make it faster and easier to consume on the web.

"However, one of the most frequent user concerns is unexpected media playback which can use data consume power and make unwanted noise while browsing."

To address this, Chrome will be making auto play more consistent with user expectations and will give users more control over audio.

Starting in Chrome 64 auto play will be allowed when either the media won't play sound, or user has indicated an interest in the media.

This will allow auto play to occur when users want media to play and respect users wishes when the don't.
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These changes will also unify desktop and mobile web behavior, making web development more predictable across platforms and browsers.

Android 8.0 Oreo is here, but here's why you won't be able to install

Android 8.0 Oreo was unveiled by Google earlier this week to coincide with the solar eclipse across the United States.............

Android 8.0 Oreo is the latest version of the phone and tablet operating system.

Google launched the latest version of its hugely popular operating system Android 8.0 Oreo at an event in New York City earlier this week.

The launch follows months of beta release and tweaks from the US technology company, Android Oreo includes a slew of tweaks and minor improvements to the smartphone and tablet operating system.

The eight major software iteration includes notification dots on app icons, picture in video playback and auto fill to quickly security enter passwords and other personal information in website forms.

Oreo will also restrict background apps from draining the battery to help eek more usage from each charge.
Google has completely overhauled its emoji design ditching the Flubber like blobs in favor of a round design closer to those seen on the iPhone.

Picture-in-picture and app shortcuts are some of the biggest new additions

See more:--

However, some what confusingly despite the launch even in New York City last night you won't find an outstanding update waiting for you on tour android smartphone this morning.

Following the release date, Google has pushed android 8.0 Oreo out of developer preview and public beta and into its Android Open source project.

This enables third party android smartphone manufacturers Samsung, HTC, OnePlus, LG, Huawei, HMD Global to start working on the operating system for their own devices.

Different smartphone manufacturers work to different timescales to roll out the latest version of android to their hardware.
The number of tweaks to the design and functionality of Google operating system can also determine how long it takes to appear on third party devices.

As for those running Google own hardware like the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel C, Google Pixel, and Pixel XL the California based company has confirmed that android 8.0 has entered carrier testing._

It expects the new operating system to be available as an over the air update from the setting app in the near future.

The final version of Android Oreo will be pushed out to those signed up to the program today.

Your phone could be secretly recording your texts and payment info.

A new Android malware virus could be secretly recording your text messages and phone calls and you'd never know.

Security firm Kaspersky has cautioned Android smartphone owners about a dangerous new variant of malware.
Dubbed Faketoken, the new malware is capable of recording your calls, intercepting texts and quietly siphoning data from various mobile apps, including banking apps.
See here:
Worst of all you might never know the malware is even installed on your device.

Kaspersky claim the Faketocken malware "hides its shortcut icon and starts to monitor all of the calls and whichever app the user launches" as soon as it has infiltrated your Android smartphone.

The Trojan style malware can steal data from more than 2,000 app, including Android pay, the Google Play Store, taxi and hotel booking app, as well as airlines apps, Kaspersky has claimed.

As millions of Android users have these applications installed the damage caused by Faketocken could be significant the company added.

As soon as the app is launched Faketocken immediately replaces the user interface with a fake one that asks the user to input their financial information.
"The substitution happens instantaneously and the colors of the fake UI correspond to those of the original launched app," antivirus company Kaspersky claimed in an official blog post.



The siphons the credit card data for the malware creators records.

If your bank send a separate verification code in a text message before it will process your payment Faketocken has a terrifying answer for that, too.

The Trojan virus installs on your device, and then immediately hides its app icon (pictured here)

The malware can steal any incoming text messages and send them to command and control servers, where hackers can use the access code to gain access.

According to Kaspersky the evidence suggests that Faketocken is being targeted at Russian users for now.
However, it is a sobering reminder to avoid installing third party apps from unapproved sources like torrents or unknown websites.

The Google Play Store while not infallible is the safest option when downloading and installing new application for your Android smartphone or tablet.

Android 8 WILL arrive on devices next week

Android O the eighth major release of Google hugely successful mobile operating system will roll our on August 21st alongside the total solar eclipse. Google Pixel and Nexus devices are expected to get it first.

Android 8.0 will launch worldwide on August 21st, Google has confirmed

Android 8.0 will land on devices on Monday August 21st, Google has confirmed.
After months in beta, the eighth major iteration of Google's Hugely successful operating System will land next week to coincide with the total solar eclipse.
Google has debuted a new webpage with a countdown to the solar event and launch of the new software.
"Android O is touching down to Earth with the total solar eclipse, bringing some sweet new powers. it declares."
"On August 21st, a solar eclipse will sweep across the entire United States for the first time since 1918."
"Android is helping you experience this historic natural phenomenon so you learn more about the eclipse and count down to the big day when you will meet the next release of Android and all of it's super new powers, revealed via live-stream from New York City at 2:40 PM ET."
Google Pixel and Pixel XL owners will be the first to download and install the operating system.
Other Google devices including the Nexus smartphone range will also be able to use the software.

The release date has been widely rumoured online.
Renowned tipster Evan Blass tweeted that Android O was scheduled to launch next week earlier this month. Google has previously said they would launch the Android O update in the third quarter of the year. David Ruddock from Android Police, had also tweeted that the Android 8.0 release date was imminent. He said that it was set to be released during the first two weeks of August.

Google announced the final release date on a webpage about the solar eclipse

Google have confirmed that Android O which began testing back in May is Android 8.0 and there's been much rumour about what the O in the mobile operating system name stand for it had widely been hoped for among the Android community that the O would stand for Oreo. However, it looks like the successor to Nougat may instead be called Oatmeal Cookie.
The possible name for android 8.0 was discovered in June by tech website Myce after they dug around in the code for Google upcoming mobile OS. They found oc dev mentioned a number of times within the code which seems to follow on former branch names used by Google. oc dev is also referred to as OC MR1 in messages relating to Android O. If those two characters are initials for what android 8.0 is called then the most likely name for the mobile OS could be Android Oatmeal Cookie.

The next generation version of android includes faster boot up times, better performance, tweaked notifications are improved batter life. But overall android 8.0 is not about headline grabbing new features instead it will double down on performance tweaks that make the everyday experience better for users. Smart selection is also being introduces in Android O.
Another new feature is notification dots, new colored bubbles that beside an app icon when you have a notification waiting.

Turn off your phone, cellular,tablet etc

Tonight at 00: 30 to 03: 30 make sure to turn off the phone, cellular, tablet, etc ... and put away from your body.

Singapore television announced the news. Please tell your family and friends. Tonight, 12:30 to 3:30 for our planet will be very high radiation. Cosmic rays will pass close to Earth. So please turn off your cell phone. Do not leave your device close to your body, it can cause you terrible damage. Check Google and NASA BBC News. Send this message to all the people who matter to you. FORWARDED AS RECEIVED