I've bought several smartphones and tablets online from Chinese websites with no problems but this really got my attention.

I've seen the phone that is the subject of this article on many Chinese online stores including AliExpress and Geekbuying;

It makes one wonder how much malware embedded on these phones has not been found...yet.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/18/chinese-smartphone-samsung-amazon-ebay-malware-google-play

This thread is also a fake clone of a ThaiVisa Thread already in play:

Thailand Forum → Business in Thailand, Jobs in Thailand → Internet, computers, communication, technology → Mobile internet and devices

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

Started by Maestro, 2014-06-17 03:41

With any phone the first thing I'd do is either install and run an anti virus program as I wouldn't trust any manufacturer of electronic goods. I remember one of the big hard drive manufacturers included a virus on their brand new hard drives a few years back.

Another solution would be to wipe the phone and install a new ROM just to be sure.

I'm surprised i missed that original post as I usually monitor that forum....duh.

Would a normal virus scan necessarily pick up malware such as that? Finding and installing replacement ROM's for many makes of Chinese phones is difficult. Also opens the issue of the safety of many replacement ROMs offered on the internet.

It's a minefield out there.

Anyone stupid enough to buy a replica phone with faked specs (says 8 core cpu but 2 core spu in real, says 2 ghz but 1.2 ghz in real etc etc) deserves that.

I'm surprised i missed that original post as I usually monitor that forum....duh.

Would a normal virus scan necessarily pick up malware such as that? Finding and installing replacement ROM's for many makes of Chinese phones is difficult. Also opens the issue of the safety of many replacement ROMs offered on the internet.

It's a minefield out there.

And even IF you find a clean custom Rom or Cyanogenmod for you device, you're not save.

If the trojan is hidden in the "Baseband Firmware", it is possible to install a fresh copy at every reboot....

But is somebody seriously surprised about that finding?