Security Blog

Contents Background "Operation Ababil" DDoS attack HKCERT operation on "brobot" cleanup in Hong Kong How to detect and remove "brobot" in CMS Reference   1. Background According to W3Techs [1], Joomla is currently one of the most...

  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 November, we have downloaded 170 apps from Play Store, where 8 apps have been identified as high risk. 3 of them were removed from Play Store (on or before 26-November). 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: 170 apps Unable to download via the system: 30 apps Downloaded date: 5-November 2013 List of the downloaded apps: "Appendix 1" [download]   Analysis Overview   In this analysis, 170 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 behavior pose malicious level of security risk, which can be identified explicitly, that causes security threat to users. Suspicious behavior refers to apps behavior pose certain level of security risk, but no malicious behavior can be explicitly identified.   1. Scanning Result   Among the 170 scanned apps, 8 apps were identified as security high risk. These 8 Apps were identified with the following high risk behavior signatures, Android.Adware.Adwo, Android.Adware.AirPush, Android.Trojan.Generic, Android.AdWare.Leadbolt, Android.Adware.SKplanet, Android.Adware.InMobiAds, Android.Adware.AdMogo, Android.Adware.Domob, Android.Adware.MobWIN, Android.Adware.TapjoyAds, and Android.Riskware.SmsReg.   List of security high risk apps   Application High risk behavior signature / Ad plug-in Malware detection ratio by VirusTotal Status # 1. TV Peppa Pig v1.2 Category: New Free Applications Installs: 10,000-50,000 High risk behavior description: It can obtain SIM serial number, obtain SIM status, read phone number, enable camera automatically, connect to the Internet, image capture, make phone call, and send out phone information, etc. Android.Adware.SKplanet Android.Trojan.Generic Android.Adware.InMobiAds 6/46 [link] Removed from play store 2. 周星馳電影 v3.4 Category: New Free Applications Installs: 1,000-5,000 High risk behavior description: It can enable voice record automatically, connect to the Internet, and make phone call, etc. ...

Do you think about opening an email that does not have URL link and attachment, it also poses a security risk?   Recently, HKCERT received an incident report from an Internet Service provider company, in which a number of Yahoo e-mail users received a spoofed...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (22 Nov 2013)   "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@hkcert....

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (15 Nov 2013)   "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@hkcert....

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (08 Nov 2013)   "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@hkcert....

       With a surge in targeted attacks, Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) today (8 November 2013) conducted a territory-wide drill to raise the readiness of local critical Internet infrastructure providers and mobile network operators against such...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (01 Nov 2013)   "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@hkcert....

November 2013 Issue of Security Newsletter is available now: /my_url/en/newsletter/1311   Cover Story Stay Alert for Ransom-ware "CryptoLocker" Near Field Communication Security Guidelines Hot Story Hong Kong Google Play Store's Apps Security Risk Report...

Near Field Communication (NFC), the name often appears in smartphone. Many electronic devices such as speakers and Bluetooth headsets also support NFC communication. In fact, NFC technology has been used since 1997 in Hong Kong in a popular payment service – the Octopus. Most...