Security Blog

It has been more than a month after Microsoft terminated the support services of Windows XP system (WinXP) on April 8, 2014. According to StatCounter statistics report1, the number of WinXP users in Hong Kong only has a slight decrease of 1% ( to 14...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (16 May 2014)   "Favourite Security Reads of the Week". Each week we share five news or articles that we like. We hope you will love this column and we welcome your comment via email...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (9 May 2014)   "Favourite Security Reads of the Week". Each week we share five news or articles that we like. We hope you will love this column and we welcome your comment via email...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (2 May 2014)   "Favourite Security Reads of the Week". Each week we share five news or articles that we like. We hope you will love this column and we welcome your comment via...

May 2014 Issue of Security Newsletter is available now: /my_url/en/newsletter/1405   Cover Story Impacts and Response to Heartbleed Vulnerability Beware of Encryption Ransomware, Do data protection now Hot Topic Hong Kong Google Play Store's Apps Security...

 Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team (HKCERT) Coordination Centre cooperates with the National Institute of Network and Information Security (NINIS) for detecting malicious and suspicious behaviors of Apps from the Google Play Store, in order to study the security risk of apps in the Google Play Store in Hong Kong area. NINIS provides us analyzed result, and we collate the detection result and publish security alerts to the public.   In the report of April, we have downloaded 150 apps from Play Store, where 8 apps have been identified as high risk. None of them was removed from Play Store (on or before 28-April). The detail of report is shown as follow.   Target scope Top 50 Free Applications in Hong Kong area Top 50 New Free Applications in Hong Kong area Top 50 Free Games in Hong Kong area Top 50 New Free Games in Hong Kong area   Scanned Apps Successful downloaded and scanned: 150 apps Unable to download via the system: 50 apps Downloaded date: 5-April 2014 List of the downloaded apps: "Appendix 1" [download]   Analysis Overview   In this analysis, 150 apps were scanned for bad behaviors. Based on the level of security threat, the apps were divided into 2 categories: apps with malicious and apps with suspicious behaviors. Malicious behavior refers to apps having malicious purpose explicitly, which could cause direct harm to systems and users' interests. Suspicious behavior refers to apps having behavior, which could cause direct harm to systems and users' interests, but no malicious behavior can be explicitly identified.   1. Scanning Result   Among the 150 scanned apps, 8 apps were identified as security high risk. These 8 Apps were identified with the following high risk behavior signatures Android.Trojan.Generic, Android.Adware.AirPush.A, ApplicUnwnt, Android.Adware.Domob, Android.Adware.LeadBolt, Android.Adware.Waps.l.Gen and Android/AdLoad.B.Gen, etc.   List of security high risk apps   Application High risk behavior signature / Ad plug-in Malware detection ratio by VirusTotal Status # 1. 千寻影视HD  v1.2.2 Category: Top Free Applications Installs: >250,000 High risk behavior description: Obtain SIM serial number, obtain SIM status, read phone number, connect to the Internet, call camera application, make phone call, and send out phone information. AndroidOS.Domob Adware/ANDR.Waps.I.Gen 8/50 [Link] Available on play store 2. PPS影音(HD版)  v1.6.1 Category: Top Free Applications Installs: >250,000 High risk behavior description: Obtain SIM serial number, obtain SIM status, connect to the Internet, call...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (25 Apr 2014)   "Favourite Security Reads of the Week". Each week we share five news or articles that we like. We hope you will love this column and we welcome your comment via email to hkcert@...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (17 Apr 2014)   "Favourite Security Reads of the Week". Each week we share five news or articles that we like. We hope you will love this column and we welcome your comment via email to hkcert@...

  Content Introduction Impacts How to respond to Heartbleed Vulnerability System Administrator General Users Heartbleed Vulnerability Checking Tools Additional Information   Introduction On 8th April 2014, there were numerous reports about OpenSSL Heartbleed vulnerability on information security websites globally. HKCERT published a security...

  What is "Encryption Ransomware"?   Encryption Ransomware attacks victims through phishing emails. Once infected, the malware encrypts not only the files located in the affected machines, but also the files shared on the connected network drive. The malware demands payment for a...