Google launches Android version of ‘Find my Phone'

Losing your precious phone to thief or by your own doing of misplacing it is a painful experience. I lost my iPhone 3GS (my first Apple gadget) in a conference hall of a hotel in Kota Kinabalu a couple of years back.

I was foolish and naive, I never thought of installing the 'Find my Phone' app until it was too late then. All attempts to recover the lost phone proved futile. The 'golden one hour' was wasted because the phone was not set to 'discoverable' mode.

Screenshot of Find my Phone on my iPad, viewing its location in real time.


If you are using Android phone, there is now a similar app for it. Google has recently launched an Android equivalent to Apple's Find my Phone app in order to help consumers track down missing or stolen handsets and tablets.

The app is called Android Device Manager and it offers much of the same functionality that is available for iPhone and iPad.

Phone manufacturers like HTC, Sony and Samsung all have proprietary security tools on their Android smartphones, but this is the first time Google has released such a feature.


Availability and features

It is scheduled to be officially roll out this month.

The service will allow users to call their phone and make it ring at maximum volume - even if it is in silent mode - in case it has been misplaced around the home, or view its location in real time on a map if it was left at a restaurant or somewhere else further.





If the Android device is missing because it was stolen, the owner can quickly and securely remote wipe all information on it.

Google says that the app supports about 98.7% of all active Android devices and the service is compatible with devices running version 2.2 (Froyo) or higher of the operating system. Like Apple's Find my Phone app, it will come with a supporting app for managing multiple devices.


TheGreenMechanics: You've got nothing to lose. Install it once it becomes available and avoid my painful experience.


Source: Tech News

New Android malware spreads on mobile devices

If you are an Android smartphone user or tablet user, beware.

According to Lookout, a smartphone security company, you are now facing another malware threat called NotCompatible. This new trick up malicious programmers’ sleeves, spreads malware through infected or hacked/compromised websites.

Screenshot from mylookout.com

How the malware works

When the you visit a compromised website from your smartphone or tablet (or any Android powered device), your web browser will automatically begin downloading application, a process known as a "drive-by download."

Once downloaded, the device will display a notification prompting the user to click on the notification to install the downloaded app. But for the app to actually install on a device, it must have the “Unknown sources” setting enabled.

The positive side - at least for the time being - is that if  your device "unknown sources" setting is not enabled, the installation will be blocked.


Update by Lookout

An update by the security company stated that NotCompatible is a new Android trojan that appears to serve as a simple TCP relay / proxy while posing as a system update. It does not yet appear to cause any direct harm to a target device, but could potentially be used to gain illicit access to private networks by turning an infected Android device into a proxy.

This appears to be the first time that compromised websites have been used to distribute malware targeting Android devices.

As a matter of concern, a device infected with NotCompatible could potentially be used to gain access to normally protected information or systems, such as those maintained by enterprise or government. So, if you are an administrator of a network at work place, this threat could be of interest to you.


Prevention

For people with Lookout protection, you are covered. For the masses, simply block (don't enable) auto installation of app from unknown sources. Simple as that.

Reference: Lookout mobile security