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THE LATEST IN MOBILE SECURITY
Snap Secure Removes Fees for Personal Guardian for BlackBerry App
September 1st, 2011
A smartphone application that turns BlackBerry devices into a one-push panic button is now available as a free application courtesy of Snap Secure, a mobile security company offering the most comprehensive suite of data, device and personal protection services for Android, BlackBerry and Apple devices.
The Personal Guardian app was previously available for $19.99 including lifetime access to the Personal Guardian web portal. Once installed and configured on a BlackBerry device, a three-second (configurable) touch of a convenience key allows the phone to silently trigger an emergency call to 911 or any other number as well as send an email, text message or Twitter message – complete with GPS location tracking information – asking for help.
“Personal Guardian for BlackBerry is a small but important part of our Snap Secure mobile protection suite,” said Robert Kao, Vice President of Security Products for Snap Secure. “Many BlackBerry users asked us to reduce or eliminate the cost and we decided that our customers were right – Personal Guardian is a potentially life-saving, peace of mind application that needs to be free and broadly distributed without commercial gain.”
More Android Malware Discovered!
July 13th, 2011
Dr. Xuxian Jiang and his research team at North Carolina State University have been busy these past few months finding and researching smartphone malware threats. While continuing their research on previously discovered threats, Dr. Jiang and his team found 3 more malware threats that were available in alternative Android markets.
While continuing his research on the DroidKungFu malware, two more DroidKungFu Variants were discovered in 9 different apps in alternative Android markets. Both variants, while repackaged differently from their predecessor, work to gain root privilege of the user’s device. Once this is successfully done, the variants can access arbitrary files that give them the capability of installing/uninstalling application packages and changing the homepage browser without the user’s knowledge.
GoldDream is another discovered spyware that spies on a user’s incoming SMS messages, as well as incoming and outgoing calls made on the user’s device. The spyware collects information such as phone numbers, source addresses, message content, and timestamps of the SMS messages and phone calls and uploads them to a remote server upon command. GoldDream also exhibits bot-like behavior in which it can execute commands on the device that are sent from the remote server such as making phone calls and installing/uninstalling apps.
The most recent discovery was HippoSMS, which is a malware that sends SMS messages to a hard-coded, premium rated number in order to incur additional charges on the user’s phone bill. It will then monitor the user’s incoming SMS messages to delete any messages from the user’s phone service provider notifying them of the charges incurred or their account balance.
We advise users to only download apps from trusted app stores, always check reviews, ratings, and information about the developer of the app, and check the permissions the app is requesting to make sure you are comfortable with the data it wants to access. Also, always make sure your phone’s operating system and Snap Secure software is up to date.
Read More: More Android Malware Discovered! @ Dr. Jiang's Research Findings »
Snap Secure Introduces the New Multi-User Management Feature
June 30th, 2011
We are excited to announce the new multi-user management feature! What is it and what’s the benefit? Are you a parent that wants to know if your kids are where they should be? Are you a small business owner who would like track your company devices? Well Snap Secure’s new multi-user management feature is the perfect solution for you!
This multi-user feature will give Snap Secure Pro users the ability to manage and track multiple smartphone devices all from one account. Group admins will be able to remote track, remote wipe, and remote lock those devices in the group. Also the Snap Secure web dashboard has been updated to allow Pro users to easily create or join a group. It is very simple to add new and existing Snap Secure users regardless if they are on different platforms (BlackBerry, Android, iPhone).
The best part is with this release, users who purchase a Snap Secure Pro subscription will receive two more yearly subscriptions to give to other users who want to join their group FOR FREE! If you would like to add more devices, you can purchase additional subscriptions for your plan.
If you would like to learn more about the multi-user management feature, you can visit our features page or read about how it is used in one of our user guides.
Hackers Targeting Android Market More Than Ever
June 29th, 2011
After having to pull more than 50 apps from the market since March, hackers are continuing to be a persistent problem for Google. Earlier this month, NC State University professor, Xuxian Jiang, discovered two more Android malware threats during his research on the Droid Kung Fu malware. Both threats were found in apps available on the official Android market.
YZHCSMS is an SMS Trojan found in the PPXIU Chinese game app. Once the malicious app is installed, the Trojan retrieves premium rated numbers via the internet and sends SMS text messages to them from the user’s device. This incurs hidden charges on the user’s phone bill and goes undetected because the Trojan deletes the SMS messages it sends. Another malware discovered was the Plankton spyware. Ten apps on the Android market were disguised as add-ons and cheats for the popular “Angry Birds” game app, but were actually delivery agents for Plankton. This malware posed a greater threat as once the phony app is downloaded onto the device, more malicious code is installed through payloads, exploiting unpatched Android bugs.
Once Professor Jiang reported his findings to Google, nearly two dozen more apps had to be pulled from the Android market. Increasing the number of malicious apps Google has had to pull in the past few months. This rise in malicious activity geared towards the Android market gives Android users (and all other smartphone users) more reason to take steps towards protecting their devices from these threats.
We are working closely with Professor Jiang and his research team to keep our software and its users up to date on the latest malware threats to smartphones. To read more about Droid Kung Fu, YZHCSMS, Plankton, and other malware threats, please visit our malware library. You can also learn more on how to protect your device from becoming victim by visiting our security tips page. Our Snap Secure software also provides anti-malware protection for your smartphone device.
Et tu, RIM? BackBerry records locations without users knowing!
June 8th, 2011
A few weeks ago, there were big fuss around iPhones/iPads tracking users every move, which led to Senate Hearing of Apple and Google execs explaining themselves.
We wanted to see if we can find what RIM is doing to its own users, can the smartphone giant be doing the same as its peers? It turns out, YES. RIM is collecting data on its BlackBerry smartphone device without you knowing, however, you can turn it off (if you can find the setting first!).
Why is RIM doing this? To quote RIM (see screenshot), “…to improve the speed and accuracy of future location services.” This may sound innocent enough (though we may not really know what RIM is actually doing with the data), but there is a real financial impact to BlackBerry users that are not on the unlimited data plan. Every time BlackBerry collects data and send to its server, it is using your data plan and eating into your monthly data quota. For those of you that do not have unlimited data plans, this is costing you.
What to do?
For Consumers
Fortunately for BlackBerry users, RIM, unlike its peers, allows BlackBerry users to turn the “feature” off. Here is how:
1. Open up Options App (tool looking icon)
2. Select Device option from the list
3. Select Location Settings options
3. From the Location Settings screen, select Disable from Location Data setting drop down.
4. Press the menu key and select Save.
For Enterprise (Thanks Tim C. for the BES details)
In an enterprise environment, a BES admin have control over this using IT Policy, within the Security Policy Group section there’s an option for “Disable GPS”.
We applaud RIM for making this an option where users can choose to turn on / off, but please make it more apparent to the BlackBerry user population.
