We talk often about mobile security, but have you ever seen what a hacker can access through your phone with the right malware?
Sophos Cyber Security Advisor James Lyne appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America to talk with reporter Gio Benitez about the threat of Android malware, and the dangers of doppelgänger phone apps like the fake version of WhatsApp that was downloaded more than a million times from Google Play.
He performs an incredible demonstration of just how much access hackers can gain through malicious mobile apps.
Lyne provides five volunteers with Android phones and asks them to use the phones as they normally would. Using malware installed on the phone, he shows us just how easy it is to gain access to passwords and social media profiles, read and send text messages, track the phone’s location and even take photos and video of the user through their own phone’s camera.
It’s an amazing demonstration and hits home just how incredibly important mobile security is, and how everyone needs to be aware of exactly what apps they download on to their phones.
Android users can follow these simple steps to minimise the risks they face:
- Stick to Google Play, it isn’t perfect but it’s safer than alternative markets.
- Apply software updates to your phone as soon as they are available.
- Scrutinise apps closely, watch out for fakes and avoid apps with a low reputation.
- Protect your mobile device for free with Sophos Mobile Security for Android.
IT administrators can find out more about the threat of Android malware by reading the SophosLabs 2018 Malware Forecast, and protect their users by deploying Sophos Mobile, our Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that’s easy to configure and manage.