Google Play Protect Detects New Malware Targeting Android

If you haven’t heard of Google’s new product for helping to protect Android users, it’s called Google Play Protect. And it now has identified malware, called Tizi, that has infected targets across the world.  It is spyware and gets to your Android device through an app advertised on social media and third-party app stores. Once it’s installed, it will gladly grab your personal data from apps such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Linked, Skype, and others.

It also exploits several vulnerabilities from several years ago. So, make sure you take some time to update your devices and apps so that they are not open to this exploit.

It can also do a whole host of other tasks that won’t make users happy:

• Record calls from Viber, WhatsApp, and Skype.
• Send and receive SMS messages.
• Access the calendar events, call log, contact lists, photos, and list of apps installed on the device.
• Steal the Wi-Fi encryption keys.
• Record audio and take photos without the user knowing what’s happening.

Always check the permissions for any app that you install. If it’s a flashlight app, for example, it doesn’t need access to your camera or microphone. And it is a very rare case indeed that an app needs administrator access to any device. If this is granted, whoever is controlling the malware can have full access to do whatever he or she want on the device.

Make sure Google Play Protect is enabled on Android devices. It began rolling out to users running Play Services 11 and above back in July. It should be available to nearly all versions that are supported by now.

Don’t sideload applications from third-party sites. Stick to the official Google Play store.

Ensure security software is installed on your devices and keep it updated at all times.

Google has so far found 1,300 devices infected by Tizi.