Android phone built in China comes equipped with malware - Star N9500

[Maestro]

STAR N9500

Android phone built in China comes equipped with malware

Posted: 15 Jun 2014, 12:13, by Alan F.

WARNING:

An Android phone made in China comes with an unusual and unwanted extra feature: malware. The Star N9500 comes from the factory with the Uupay.D trojan acting as the Google Play Store. The trojan will collect and copy personal information, and the microphone will broadcast your phone calls as well as conversations you have near the phone, to unwanted listeners. Text messages will be sent to premium services.

The hook is that the device is available for as low as 160€ ($217 USD). But that price is subsidized by all of the illegal activities that someone is getting to enjoy. One security researcher from Kaspersky sums up the Star N9500 by saying that "the device comes from the factory with an extensive espionage program."

Read more: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-phone-built-in-China-comes-equipped-with-malware_id57159

-- phoneArena.com 2014-06-15

[eddie61]

Respect for the business model

[belg]

the ANDROPAD cheapscape mobile phone costing around 1500 baht and sold in BIG C had the same feature ... malware detected after I installed AVAST ...

did a factory reset, and to my surprise, after installed any AV, like AVG this time, same warning ...

brought it back to get my money back with the wife ... the guy "responsible" for IT / phones asked : what is spyware / malware / trojan ??? and what does it do ???

thank god for the 7 day return policy

[Emster23]

Do an airdrop to ISIS thugs in Iraq. I am sure they couldn't resist. Also, seems fairly pricey for a rip off.....

[Maggusoil]

Thanks for the consumer conscious post.

[Maestro]

Popular Chinese Android Smartphone Has Malware Pre-Installed

Posted on Jun 15 2014 - 6:26pm by Chad Buenaflor

One of the biggest threats to the Android platform is malware. Earlier this year a report was released that showed the platform to be the target of 97% of all mobile malware in 2013. This is a significant increase from its record of 79% from the previous year. Most of the time malware enters an Android device through apps installed from unofficial sources. However, a new method has been discovered for this threat to infect a device and it is done from the factory.

The Star N9500, a popular Galaxy S4 clone in China, comes pre-installed with the Uupay.D trojan straight out of the factory. The Trojan disguises itself as a Google Play service but then collects data from the device without restrictions. It can record phone conversations without the user knowing about it. The microphone of the device can be activated remotely so that anyone can listen to conversations within range of the phone. It also sends out SMS to premium services which leads to a higher bill for the user.

Read more: http://thedroidguy.com/2014/06/popular-chinese-android-smartphone-malware-pre-installed-93764#p1RPvI0Eu7B4Kju6.99

[media]

If this is True (and not a fake or hoax to try and slag Android) This is terrible! Unbelievable, F'd up !

An embarrassment to Android

By the way anyone using a Note3 DONT UPGRADE the latest firmware 4.4.2

the previous Firmware was perfect - Sadly 4.4.2 is full of nasty bugs that will ruin your phone.

[mercman24]

my friend has /had a chinky clone phone of some sort, (not sure) she tried to take a photo in poor light, the flash was absolute crap, nothing came out, the girl next to us had a "proper phone" she took a photo, and wow a decent flash, such a difference, now her phone is back to the guy that sold it to her with some sort of problem after 1 month.

[Maestro]

Removed a troll post with false information.

[Traveling Sailor]

Popular Chinese Android Smartphone Has Malware Pre-Installed

Posted on Jun 15 2014 - 6:26pm by Chad Buenaflor

One of the biggest threats to the Android platform is malware. Earlier this year a report was released that showed the platform to be the target of 97% of all mobile malware in 2013. This is a significant increase from its record of 79% from the previous year. Most of the time malware enters an Android device through apps installed from unofficial sources. However, a new method has been discovered for this threat to infect a device and it is done from the factory.

The Star N9500, a popular Galaxy S4 clone in China, comes pre-installed with the Uupay.D trojan straight out of the factory. The Trojan disguises itself as a Google Play service but then collects data from the device without restrictions. It can record phone conversations without the user knowing about it. The microphone of the device can be activated remotely so that anyone can listen to conversations within range of the phone. It also sends out SMS to premium services which leads to a higher bill for the user.

Read more: http://thedroidguy.com/2014/06/popular-chinese-android-smartphone-malware-pre-installed-93764#p1RPvI0Eu7B4Kju6.99

Probably designed per request of and produced under the watchful eye of the Chinese government.

[build6]

http://news.yahoo.com/obvious-scam-android-app-installed-over-1-million-193927872.html