Android users, here's new reason to be wary: Researchers have found that an unresolved bug is leaving almost 40% of users at risk of having their phones hijacked.
As if it wasn't bad enough that you can't borrow a charger from anyone.
The bug — discovered by a team at Check Point, a technology company that alerts customers of security threats — affects Android 6.01 users and above.
The issue stems from Androids' permissions, which let apps enable elements, like Facebook Messenger's chat bubbles, that can pop up on your screen. This is a great feature for trusted apps in the Google Play store, but also gives any malicious apps downloaded onto your phone dangerous permissions that may allow them to gain access to your device. Once hackers gain access, they can take control of your screen, install harmful software and obtain private information like photos, passwords, and bank details.
The researchers at Check Point have reported this flaw to Google, who says that they are addressing this security risk with the release of Android O. The issue is that the new operating system isn't expected to be released until this summer, which leaves Android users as risk in the meantime.
To protect yourself from these dangerous hackers, researchers at Check Point recommended taking the following precautions:
- "Beware of fishy apps: Users should always beware of malicious apps, even when downloading from Google Play. Look for the comments left by other users, and grant only permissions which have relevant context for the app's purpose.
- Implement advanced security measures: Just as you protect your PC with dedicated security solutions, you should also make sure to protect your mobile device using a protective solution capable of identifying and blocking known and unknown malware"
