Google Android vulnerable to malicious application

This is in fact the first such app found on Android and it comes in the guise of the popular Madden NFL 12 game.

Kaspersky's Mobile security researcher Denis Maslennikov has found a malicious application that affects Android smartphones. The app is actually an Internet Relay Chat bot that runs automated tasks over the internet. This is in fact the first such app found on Android and it comes in the guise of the popular Madden NFL 12 game.

When an Android smartphone user downloads and installs the popular game or application from lesser-known third party app stores, the IRC bot quietly gets installed in the device.
Maslennikov explains that after the app is installed, the malware, disguised as Madden NFL 12, aims to take complete control of the device. Once the malware gets root (administrator level) access, the IRC bot gets installed along with an SMS Trojan. The root access allows the attacker to control the smartphone remotely and send an SMS to a premium rate number and thereby increase cost for the user.
All this is in the background and the user has no clue of what is happening to the credit balance. The premium rate numbers are usually international numbers, hence SMSes to these numbers cost a lot.
The IRC bot connects to any random remote IRC server with a random nickname. Once connected, the IRC bot becomes capable of receiving shell commands to perform specific functions on the device. In this entire attack, the malicious app needs to gain root access to perform nefarious tasks. If your device is not rooted, or if it is rooted through proper methods, there is nothing to worry about.
As always, users are recommended to download apps only from reputed and verified app stores such as Android Market, Amazon App Store and Getjar. Applications from an unknown location can prove to be dangerous.
Needless to say, this premise depends on one thing — if the phone is rooted and that with an outdated code. Unless you are an advanced user we recommend not rooting the smartphone© 2010-2012 The Little Ganesha® All Rights Reserved.
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All white Samsung Galaxy Tabs emerge in Vietnam

Samsung has released white versions of several of the company’s mobile devices lately. While the back of the various devices would be white, the front bezel around the screen typically remained black — that is, until now.  It would appear that Samsung has been working on a white bezel to integrate into the company’s future milky-colored devices;  a white Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus have emerged in Vietnam and feature truly all white design. The specs of the Tab 10.1 and Tab 7.0 Plus remain unchanged, reports claim. No pricing or availability details have been announced.© 2010-2012 The Little Ganesha® All Rights Reserved. Subscribe in a reader