In recent times there have been great strides made in the means of communication and the dissemination of information. We now have the ability to make telephone calls from virtually anywhere with our cell phones, and obtain instant information on every possible subject with our laptop computers, smart phones, iPads and Android Operating Systems. These enhanced means of obtaining information and communication do, however, have very serious associated risks .
At the present time there are more than 250,000 apps, games and widgets available through the Android market. Furthermore, with the domination of Android-based phones in the smart phone market, and the Android Market website, there are great opportunities available for hackers.
Recently, a security firm found more than 800 Android apps were leaking personal data, and sending the information to unauthorized servers. Furthermore, Symantec recently posted an analysis of "Android.Pjapps", a back door Trojan horse that Chinese hackers used to hijack the legit Steamy Windows app. It was found that the malware infiltrated a user’s smart phone to send invisible text messages to premium rate numbers which then rewarded the hackers with a commission. It is obvious that this type of hacking can result in substantial expense to an unsuspecting consumer.
Although the possibility of being the victim of hackers is very real, at the present time, most Android malware Is not very sophisticated, and this improper activity is usually conducted with minimal user interaction. Hackers usually seek to have users trigger the malicious application quickly so that there is a high infection rate of devices. However, in time Android malware will, undoubtedly, become more sophisticated and, resultantly, the risk of being subjected to these hackers will substantially increase.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of cybercriminals, please contact us to discuss your legal rights.