20+ Chinese brand smartphones come with pre-installed malware.

Diji1 on 05/09/2015 - 17:26

According to security researchers* over 20 handsets from various Chinese manufacturers have malware pre-installed (after they leave the factory but before they get to the consumer).

Source: http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/15/09/04/1817214/20-chinese…

Since there's many fans of Chinese Android smartphones here: install a reputable anti-virus from Google Play such as Avira Mobile (free) to see if you are affected.

*It should be noted that many "security researchers" are grandstanding idiots due to conflicts of interest. Whether these ones are I do not know.

Mobile

Comments

  • paul11 on 05/09/2015 - 18:31
    +1

    Agree, Possible solutions:

    • Root the phone and install a custom ROM. (My Lenovo K3 Note is rooted and a custom ROM installed)
    • Install Antivirus. (I have free Avast installed).
    • elusive on 05/09/2015 - 21:16

      Should be noted that ROM-level malware can hide itself from any (non-root?) A/V app. Also, firmware-level (below ROM OS) malware can even persist past a reboot. Looks like that's probably not the case here, but it's possible - and more likely if the manufacturers themselves are involved.

  • scrimshaw on 05/09/2015 - 21:47

    I rooted my chinese phone with Kingroot — was the only root solution after months of googling and searching. But surprise surprise, Kingroot itself is malicious.

    Be careful when you root your device, as the root method itself will inject malware onto the ROM and making it hard to remove without a full flash.

    • iridiumstem on 05/09/2015 - 21:49

      I used Supersume to get rid of the app and its trace. It's really suss since Kingroot developers actually are trying to block supersume.

      • scrimshaw on 05/09/2015 - 21:51

        Interesting recommendation. $5.44 to purchase though. Pretty expensive for an app that does only one thing, but when you've got a monopoly…

        • iridiumstem on 05/09/2015 - 21:53

          It used to be free, don't they have a free version?

          I assume the developer decided to charge, since Kingroot developers actually try to block Supersume and made it harder to remove them.

        • scrimshaw on 05/09/2015 - 21:54

          @Oversimplified:

          Ah yes, there is an ad-supported version and a premium one. Will have to try it out tomorrow night.

    • paul11 on 06/09/2015 - 16:55

      True, If available, install reputed ROMs and download directly from the manufacturer's website. For example here is a little list of some reputed ROMs.

  • DeafMutePretender on 05/09/2015 - 21:48

    Don't some Korean phones have malware too?

  • spychiatrist on 05/09/2015 - 22:32

    Anti-virus on phones is a sham

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