A major security vulnerability has been discovered in the Android operating system which allows hackers to gain complete control over the affected device.
We’ve got another security flaw, folks! Remember Heartbleed, the bug which allowed anyone to eavesdrop in your SSL data communication? Well, a new flaw has been discovered in the Android operating system which has already been dubbed ‘Heartbleed for mobile’.
By sending a simple string of characters as a text message, the sender can gain complete control of your device. The issue affects a part of the operating system called Stagefright, which handles video and media content. The flaw will potentially allow hackers to gain access to the camera and microphone, meaning they could be watching you without anybody realising.
Even worse, the hack is completely out of the users control with no real chance of preventing it. If you receive the message through Google Hangouts, it’s already too late. On the standard messaging app, simply viewing the text causes the infection to occur.
Our advice is to remove Google Hangouts should you have it and be very vigilant of your message inbox over the next few weeks. There’s currently no word on when a fix will be available.
For more on Android, visit What Mobile’s dedicated Android page.