Video: How Android Phones Can Be Hacked With One Text
George Dolgikh/Shutterstock.com
Why 95 percent of Android users are at risk.
Android users, beware: 950 million Android phones and tablets are vulnerable to being hacked by text message. Through these poisonous texts, hackers can copy and delete data as well as spy on users through cameras and microphones.
The text message contain a contaminated video attachment. Users don't even have to open the text or watch the video to get infected, as many Google messaging apps read video files before users even get a text message notification.
Dubbed "Stage Fright," the vulnerability was discovered by Zimperium Android researcher Joshua Drake. Drake notified Google, which is now sending a fix to its mobile partners.
Drake will release more details at next week's Black Hat hacker conference.
For Android users, blocking text messages from unknown numbers is a temporary fix until Android partners such as Samsung and Motorola can release the update to fix the problem.
To learn more, check out the video from CNET below:
(Image via George Dolgikh/ Shutterstock.com)