A computer virus attacks smartphones using Google’s Android operating system, triggering alarms over security. There are more than 3 million smartphone users in Korea and 1.13 million of them own Android phones.
The New York Times on Tuesday said a “Trojan” virus was discovered in Russia that specifically targets smartphones using Android. Kaspersky Lab, a Russian antivirus software company, said the worm takes advantage of Android phones after users install what appears to be a “harmless media player.”
Infected users unwittingly sign up for pay sites “resulting in money passing from a user’s account to that of the cybercriminals,” the newspaper reported. Lee Chang-hoon at Kaspersky Lab Korea said, “In addition to the New York Times report, Trojan horses have been discovered in about a dozen countries in the U.S. and Europe, and there’s a strong chance of infections being discovered in Korea soon.”
Android phones are more vulnerable to hacking than Apple’s iPhones. Google’s Android software allows anyone to upload and download programs, making it easy for hackers to spread malicious codes. “Korean manufacturers of Android phones such as Samsung and LG need to develop software programs that can inspect applications for viruses,” said Cho Hyun-sook of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.
The government plans to announce a set of measures next month aimed at bolstering mobile Internet security.
Source : chosun.com
