US Government-funded Android phones come preinstalled with unremovable malware
An Android phone subsidized by the US government for low-income users comes preinstalled with malware that can't be removed without making the device cease to work, researchers reported on Thursday. The UMX U686CL is provided by Virgin Mobile's Assurance Wireless program. Assurance Wireless is an offshoot of the Lifeline Assistance program, a Federal Communications Commissions plan that makes free or government-subsidized phones service available to millions of low-income families. The program is often referred to as the Obama Phone because it expanded in 2008, when President Barack Obama took office. The UMX U686CL runs Android and is available for $35 to qualifying users. Researchers at Malwarebytes said on Thursday that the device comes with some nasty surprises. Representatives of Sprint, the owner of Virgin Mobile, meanwhile said it didn't believe the apps were malicious. Continua su https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/us-government-funded-... Giacomo
Giacomo Tesio <giacomo@tesio.it> writes: [...]
Continua su https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/us-government-funded-...
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- It seems the price people often pay for low-cost phones is compromised security and privacy. While many users may not be able to afford them, buying phones from mainstream and well-known providers located outside of China is likely to be a better choice. --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- aaaah, quindi è quello il problema: la Cina :-D invece i telefoni venduti da Apple, Samsung, Motorola etc sono sicurissimi e privi di backdoors o malware, ma soprattutto fanno in modo che le nostre comunicazioni su Internet siano segretissime... meno male! in effetti mi stupisce che il governo USA non finanzi la distribuzione di telefoni Apple a $35 dollari per i poveri Ciao, Gio' -- Giovanni Biscuolo Xelera IT Infrastructures
On 10/01/2020, Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> wrote:
invece i telefoni venduti da Apple, Samsung, Motorola etc sono sicurissimi e privi di backdoors o malware, ma soprattutto fanno in modo che le nostre comunicazioni su Internet siano segretissime... meno male!
ROTFL! :-D Il problema è la mancanza di informazione. Non disponiamo di informazioni sufficienti per stabilire quali dispositivi siano affidabili e quanto. Naturalmente è _anche_ questione di "threat model". Sarebbe però interessante approfondire la relazione fra rischi individuali e rischi collettivi.
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- It seems the price people often pay for low-cost phones is compromised security and privacy. While many users may not be able to afford them, buying phones from mainstream and well-known providers located outside of China is likely to be a better choice. --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---
aaaah, quindi è quello il problema: la Cina :-D
Perché avevi dei dubbi? Quanti politici italiani usano GMail? Deve essere sicuro fornire ad una impresa legata al DoD USA informazioni dettagliate su ogni loro scambio email! Insomma... ci avranno pensato! ... o no? Giacomo
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