Emerging Android Trojans - Be on the Lookout

PC World has another article on cyber criminal activities involving Android devices,
Beware Android Trojans Hitching a Ride on Botnets, at http://www.techhive.com/article/2048287/beware-android-trojans-hitching-a-ride-on-botnets.html.  

According to the article, the Android is the mobile app equivalent to Windows PC for cyber criminals.  The name of the Android Trojan is Obad.a Trojan.  The Trojan is distributed using botnets designed for other malware.  If you are using an Android mobile device, pay particular attention to the distribution of the Trojan software noted below.

A quote from the article PC World:

"Handsets are initially infected with the botnet software SMS.AndroidOS.Opfake.a through a poisoned link in an SMS message.

The link promises to deliver a new MMS message to the target. If clicked, the botware will be downloaded and the target asked to run it. If the target complies, SMS messages with the same MMS pitch will be sent to everyone on the target's contact list.

In addition, the botware will download Obad.a, which sets up a backdoor on the handset that allows a botmaster to remotely control the device.

Other more conventional means are also used to distribute Obad.a, including SMS spam, links to fake Google Play stores and redirection from poisoned websites."

Smartphone Hacking

I read a several columns this morning about smartphone hacking.  The bad guys are out there to make millions off of innocent users.  The first article I read was posted over a year ago.  The prediction is coming true now in the United States. 

The Android phones are the target of hackers because the code is open source and because of the popularity.  

You can read more at

• Smartphone Hacking will rise in 2012
• Smartphone Hacking Comes of Age, Hitting US Victims
• Signs & Symptoms of a Hacked Smartphone

Smartphone users should be aware of the problem and be vigilant about the possibility of a hack.

Facebook Messenger Has Voice Recording Feature

Facebook Messenger for the Android and iOS mobile phones allows for voice recorded messages.  When I first read about the feature, I did recognize the difference between Facebook and Facebook Messenger.  You have to open the Facebook Messenger app.  When you click on the plus (+) sign the Record Voice feature appears (see the screen shot below).  The quality of the audio was very good when I tested the feature. 

MERLOT Mobile App - Contribute an App to MERLOT

MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching) needs your help.  We need for users to add mobile apps along with a brief description to the MERLOT database.  Of course, as a healthcare provider, I am especially interested in health related mobile apps. MERLOT is free for all users.  Just create a login and password to access the resources. 

As of today, there are over 106,000 members from all over the world.

The timing is important because of the release of the MERLOT app for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android phones (as well as the iPad and iPod touch).  A view of the MERLOT app is  noted below.

App That Closes Droid Phone programs

Tracy shared this:
http://www.droidapps.org/advanced-task-killer-free-kill-an-app-save-a-phone/


She said "I love this app. Closes down any apps you may have forgotten to close &
saves on your battery life. This is the link for the droid version. Check to see if there is an iphone version."

PS - Am still catching up on the wonderful tips shared by my "personal RSS readers."  Thanks, Tracy!