Have an Android phone?

" Google's security researchers have found that an anti-exploitation feature in Android that should block Stagefright-based attacks can be bypassed.

In the aftermath of the Stagefright bug, Google told media that 90 percent of Android devices would have been protected from an attack using the bug because Google had implemented address space layout randomisation (ASLR) in Android. Google introduced ASLR to Android in 2012 with version 4.1.

Google made the point as neither it, nor other Android OEMs, had released Stagefright patches for some time - some were only delivered two months after the news of the bug came to light."

Remember, your smartphone IS a computer. And as such it NEEDS a good Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware application installed to keep your data safer.

Note I did NOT say SAFE.

Unless you ONLY use your smartphone for sending and receiving Phone Calls and Phone Calls ONLY, your Smart Phone is just as susceptible to attack as your home computer.

Why the NSA and British Intelligence tries to hack your Anti-Virus

"The efforts to compromise security software were of particular importance because such software is relied upon to defend against an array of digital threats and is typically more trusted by the operating system than other applications, running with elevated privileges that allow more vectors for surveillance and attack. Spy agencies seem to be engaged in a digital game of cat and mouse with anti-virus software companies; the U.S. and U.K. have aggressively probed for weaknesses in software deployed by the companies, which have themselves exposed sophisticated state-sponsored malware."

How does it feel to know your Government is doing it's best to subvert your computer security? So they can track you on-line, and peer into the contents of your hard drive? And instead of STOPPING those who create Mal-Ware, instead, exploit the very Mal-Ware they have created, to exploit your compromised Security Software.

Removable media- hidden viruses

As part of my KTD-Project I purchase several different type of Removable media.  USB drives, SD cards and the such.  I recently got one that was infected by "8 Gigabytes" of something which had virus like coding on it.

It was a simple 32 GB USB Thumb drive, but as I put it in my USB Port, my anti virus wouldn't let the driver for it load.   Hmmm, that's curious.  So I looked at the drive a different way.  I booted into safe mode and then put the drive in the port and opened it's properties.  It was a 32GB drive that already had 8.2 GB of "Something" on it.

Tha "Something" didn't show when the drive was open, even though my system is setup to show me ALL my files including hidden and system files.  But it wouldn't show me what was hidden on this particular thumbdrive.

I called a friend and following his advice I opened a Hex Editor and looked at the drive that way.

As I told my friend what I found, he told me "STOP!"  That drive is virused!

So together we worked out how to use one of my much older systems to low level format it like it was an old style IDE Drive, then format it with Windows.

I now have a "Blank" 32GB drive, and I contacted the company I bought it from to let them know.  They were so happy I let them know, they gave me a partial refund of the purchase price.

And No I won't give out their name as they are only purchasing this type of drive from 2 different suppliers, and reselling it.  They are now pulling spot checks on their stock and are contacting their suppliers to find out how this happened, and how to ensure it hopefully doesn't happen again.

So, if you don't have your Anti-virus setup to scan ALL of your drives, including your removable drives, you need to change your settings so it does.  Plus make sure you run DAILY Virus Scans.  I've posted about the various programs I use and the schedule I use.  In fact Next week I'll probably be on the netbook for a few days, as my detail scans are due for running, and they take 2 to 3 days to run with all the hard drive space I have (Over 5 TB).

If you don't know how to change your settings to scan all of your drives including removable storage devices, contact your A/V's company and check their support forums.

Or you can post a comment and I'll try to help you.

Remember you want Daily virus scans and you want ANYTHING that plugs into your computer scanned.  Yes it slows my computer down some by having everything scanned, but I'd rather my computer be a bit slower than to get hit with a virus or malware.

DO you remember a story about ineffective anti-virus programs?

Insty linked to it a while back but I can't find it, I do however have a rebuttal.

"We believe that the majority of anti-virus products on the market can't keep up with the rate of virus propagation on the Internet," the study stated. "[What] enterprises and consumers spend on anti-virus is not proportional to its effectiveness."

Imperva's study was widely criticized at the time for poor methodology, small sample size and unrealistic testing scenarios. Because of those doubts, TechNewsDaily did not report the study when it was first released."

According to that story Imperva used a small sample size and had other incorrect or misleading methodolgy.  Click the above to go read it for yourself,