Security Response

2011 has seen some dramatic changes in the mobile landscape, with the ever-increasing growth rates in consumer adoption of smart phones. This has not gone on without getting the attention of the criminal fraternity, which has turned its attention to mobile malware. But what remains to be seen is if this trend moves beyond the stage of testing the waters to actually making a significant impact, reaching the scales we associate with threats for Windows. If the activities of the past week are any indicator, then 2012 is off to an interesting start. Another scam has come to our attention, this time targeting Android users in France, attempting to exploit the frenzy surrounding Carrier IQ.

From our analysis, Android.Qicsomos is a modified version of an open source project meant to detect Carrier IQ on a device, with additional code to dial a premium SMS number. On installation,...

Threats making or transmitting unauthorized audio recordings are not a new concept, though they have largely been limited to proof-of-concept demonstrations and final-year university projects. This is a vector that generates a lot of intrigue from researchers, as it pertains to many facets in security, such as data loss prevention and mobile threats, not to mention the changing face of the threat landscape. It is also something we have blogged about previously. Thus, when we received several inquiries about an Android threat we discovered over a week ago, and its ability to upload recorded voice conversations to a remote sever, I decided to take a second look at the threat Android.Nickispy.

This app was available on...

A quick online search would reveal a number of articles declaring any one of the last few years as being the “year of mobile malware.” Conversely, these searches also reveal claims that the same years are not going to be the year of mobile malware. These search results go back as far as the early part of the decade. The contradictory nature of these bold predictive headlines could be explained by the fact that the articles are typically written at the beginning of each year—and who knows what the year may hold at the outset?

Technologies in cell phones are advancing day after day, and so phishers are also seeking various means to exploit vulnerable cell phone users. The two key areas in which we can see this trend are, firstly, the increase in phishing against wireless application protocol (WAP) pages, and secondly, the use of compromised domain names that have been registered for mobile devices.

Many legitimate brands have designed their websites for cell phones or WAP pages. The difference between a WAP page and a regular Web page is that the WAP page uses reduced file sizes and minimal graphics. This is done for cell phone compatibility and also to achieve higher browsing speeds while the user is on the move. Symantec has recorded phishing sites spoofing such Web pages and has monitored the trend. In June, social networking and information services brands were observed in these phishing sites. In the example shown below, the phishing page consists of nothing more than a form asking for users...