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posted by janrinok on Monday November 18 2019, @04:15PM   Printer-friendly
from the no-money-in-fixing-the-problem dept.

Pre-installed apps on low-end Android phones are full of security holes

In what has become an annual reckoning, security research company Kryptowire recently published its 2019 report on the state of manufacturer-installed software and firmware for Android devices and, to no one's surprise, they found more than 140 bugs which could be exploited for malicious purposes.

The DHS-funded report uncovered 146 apps, which come pre-installed on inexpensive Android handsets, would pull shenanigans like eavesdropping through the microphone, unilaterally changing their permissions or surreptitiously transmitting data back to the manufacturer without ever notifying the user.

Kryptowire found these bugs on phones from 29 different manufacturers from relatively unknowns like Cubot and Doogee to marquee companies include Sony. And given that the average Android come with anywhere from 100 to 400 apps pre-installed, often bundled as part of larger app suites, these vulnerabilities pose a growing threat to users.


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  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday November 18 2019, @06:40PM (4 children)

    by Freeman (732) on Monday November 18 2019, @06:40PM (#921621) Journal

    The link in your post says without root, but it definitely requires a rooted Android phone.

    ========= Requirements =========
    - Root Access

    https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/l-speed/tweak-l-speed-v1-0-02-02-2015-t3020138 [xda-developers.com]

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
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  • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Monday November 18 2019, @06:47PM (3 children)

    by Snotnose (1623) on Monday November 18 2019, @06:47PM (#921624)

    I didn't need to root my phone to delete Facebook.

    --
    Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
    • (Score: 4, Funny) by krishnoid on Monday November 18 2019, @06:53PM (1 child)

      by krishnoid (1156) on Monday November 18 2019, @06:53PM (#921627)

      Facebook app: "Right, I'll delete myself right now. Thanks for trying me out! I'm all gone now, totally not here anymore!" <puts on mustache and glasses> <offers plate of supercookies to all other apps>

      • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Tuesday November 19 2019, @01:09AM

        by Snotnose (1623) on Tuesday November 19 2019, @01:09AM (#921789)

        I fail to see your point. 3 phones ago I was annoyed FB was taking up space that was advertised as mine. Last phone I tried to delete it and couldn't. Fast forward to a cat pushing a phone from a stack of library books into a cuppa tea, and me focusing on the cat instead of the phone.

        Last phone was an LG Power X, and after several weeks I wish I had that phone again.

        New phone is a Samsung A20, I still wish I had my LG phone, but I did manage to delete the Facebook app. Something I could never never do on my LG phone.

        It's been 3-4 weeks, and $200, but I really wish that A) my cat had not knocked my phone into my cuppa tea; B) Not having FB on my phone, disabled o not, is a fucking thing I would pay $200 for.

        --
        Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 18 2019, @11:54PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 18 2019, @11:54PM (#921750)

      I didn't need to root my phone to delete Facebook.

      Lucky old you....
      Ok, so I've also been in that happy position *once*, every other time, it's been marked as a system app and has required me to root the phone to remove it.
      As a.n.other poster points out, removing the app isn't actually removing Facebook's tentacles from your phone..it's amazing how 'chatty' to FB domains a 'FB free' phone can be...if the firewall lets it, that is...