95% of all Android-devices at risk. How to protect yourself?
Android / / December 19, 2019
The Android operating system is found dangerous vulnerability that allows attackers to gain control of your smartphone or tablet with just a single short MMS-messages. According to experts, under the threat turned out to be about 950 million Android-smartphone. In this article you will learn how to check if your gadget is included in this number, and what to do if a problem is detected.
This vulnerability had Stagefright name of a system component name, where it was detected. This software module is responsible for media playback, received to any MMS-message. Although Google has since Android 4.1 has provided such operations in the so-called sandbox, insulating the process of the entire system, Stagefright vulnerability could allow hackers to run malicious code and gain control over device.
According to security experts, the first examples of malicious software has already appeared in a position to not only infect a smartphone, but also instantly remove an infected message. Thus, the user generally remains unaware that his gadget has undergone a successful attack.
Google is already aware of the existence of the problem and released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability Stagefright. However, not all manufacturers were quick to release the appropriate firmware updates and distribute them to the users of its smartphones.
How to learn whether your device Stagefright vulnerability?
To do this, you can download the utility Stagefright Detector. After starting your system and analysis software instantly displays the test result. If the device is at risk, you will see a corresponding warning with red exclamation marks. If everything is in order, the program screen will appear as shown in the right screenshot.
Note that Stagefright Detector does not cure your gadget from viruses and does not eliminate the detected vulnerabilities. This utility only informs you that the device contains a gap in protection and can be infected.
To protect your smartphone or tablet, open the Settings app, which you use to exchange short text messages, and disable it in support MMS. In this case, the malicious code will not start automatically. In the presence of root access, you can disable the system component Stagefright. And in any case, you should check for new patches and firmware updates from the manufacturer as soon as possible and install them.