After the outbreak of the Is this your photo? SMS virus that is currently circulating, we reached out to a number of mobile security software developers, vendors and experts for their advice on how to deal with the virus. Well be updating this post with more responses as we get them. Wahab Yusoff, Vice President, McAfee Southeast Asia HWZ: What is the solution for those who have been affected? Yusoff: This malware is spreading via SMS spam messages. Locate the malware and simply uninstall it. McAfee Mobile Security can detect it for uninstallation. HWZ: Does the virus affect only Android users? Are any specific brands being targeted? Yusoff: As far as we know from our sample analysis so far, the malware/spam targets Android users only, not specific to any brand. HWZ: Would your internet security solution have prevented users from getting infected in the first place? Yusoff: Users can download the McAfee Mobile Security protection for their Android devices for free. The solution protects users by blocking risky downloads, scan files for malware, locate lost phones, and block undesired content including spam, malicious text messages, and nuisance calls. Eugene Teo, Senior Manager, Security Response, Symantec “Smishing”, or SMS phishing, attacks have been used by attackers for some time, and in 2013 Symantec discovered an average of 272 new malware variants and five new malware families per month targeting the Android mobile operating system. Paired with smishing scams, these malware typically attempt to steal personal and financial information stored on mobile devices, send premium rate messages, or even display intrusive adware. Although a majority of the mobile malware observed to date targets the Android platform, other popular operating systems have also been targeted, and the consistent discovery of mobile threats suggests that this trend towards targeting mobile devices will continue. Mobile threats can be difficult to get rid of once installed, and the key to staying protected is to prevent such threats from getting onto your device. We’d recommend the follow steps to keep your mobile devices safe: Prevention is better than cure – be careful when deciding whether to click on a link, and never open attachments in suspicious emails or SMS messages Ensure you backup your files and that your backup policies are sound, so that you can remove and restore files that might be compromised and infected Always install security software, such as Norton Mobile Security, and keep your software up to date with the latest definitions Only download and install apps from trusted and reputable sources – avoid third-party sources even if they offer the same mobile apps, unless they are vetted and recommended by the app creators themselves.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:58:09 +0000
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