If you use an Android cellular device, then you may want to be aware of several major security flaws that are being reported. Considering 65% of the cell phone market goes to Android, this could very well be an issue to keep an eye on.
According to Motherboard:
The chip has not one, but four, major security vulnerabilities.
Making up roughly 65% of the market, Qualcomm builds chips that power most of the world’s mobile phones. Unfortunately, an Israeli-based firm called Checkpoint recently uncovered major security flaws in the chip, dubbed QuadRooter, that could affect as many as 900 million people.
The flaws could leave users exposed to a number of cyberattacks, including “privilege escalation for the purpose of gaining root access to a device.” This could be done without the user’s knowledge.
“An attacker can exploit these vulnerabilities using a malicious app. Such an app would require no special permissions to take advantage of these vulnerabilities, alleviating any suspicion users may have when installing,” Checkpoint wrote in its report.
“If exploited, QuadRooter vulnerabilities can give attackers complete control of devices and unrestricted access to sensitive personal and enterprise data on them. Access would also provide an attacker with capabilities such as keylogging, GPS tracking, and recording video and audio,” the report reads.
Since being discovered, patches have been announced for three of the flaws. A fourth is still in development. But users are unable to obtain the solutions individually, and must rely on their manufacturers to do so.