Well, that’s clever. Lookout Mobile Security posted on their blog today on a new type of malware targeting Android users via advertisements. The malware is dubbed GGTracker. What’s unique about this malware is that the app isn’t actually found in the Android Market but instead through in-app ads. Upon clicking the ad, you will be taken to a webpage mimicking the Android Market and from there entices you to install a “Battery Saving” app or an adult “Sexy Pics” app. Sneaky. Once either app is installed, the app will sign you up for premium SMS services like “Find Your Jersey Shore Name” (mine was The Salivation) which you may not notice til your next phone bill.

I know most people out there will say, “If you’re dumb enough to install an app from a webpage, blah, blah, blah..” that doesn’t really take into account all the thousands of new Android users who may not be aware of how this stuff works (or that malware even exists on their phone).

As always, Lookout’s wants you to know that you could prevent malware and trojans such as this by installing their mobile security app — or you could always disable the side-loading of apps in your phone’s settings. I don’t think Mom really cares to know what her crush’s name is via SMS.

[Via Lookout]

Android Phone Fans

I just saw the official T-Mobile Twitter account post that they have several phones available for the next six hours for FREE with new account or eligible upgrade. Visit this page to see the deals that include the Nokia Astound. I would love to pick up one of these, but I already have five lines on T-Mobile and none are currently eligible for an upgrade.

I wish that carriers would offer some kind of discount to existing customers who are still within their contract because that would give us incentive to continue signing up for future contracts knowing we could get the latest and greatest phones rather than having to wait every two years for any kind of discount.

Nokia Experts

Are you looking for a fantastic last minute gift? I just read over on PhoneArena.com that you can get a Nokia N8 on the Nokia USA store for just $399 after the sale and special coupon code. You can see the regular holiday sale price is $449 (down from $549) and then PhoneArena.com stated you can use the coupon code noknow2010 to knock another $50 off the price. $399 is a great deal for the super powerful Nokia N8 and if you were on the fence about picking one up this looks like the time to do it. Shoot, I am even thinking about it for one of my other daughters who is looking for a new device.

View full post on Nokia Experts

Android Hackers unite! We have a cheap way for you to charge your Android device (possibly any device) with a plastic hand cranked flashlight!

Now, I know this may be a tall order for some of us, but it does require that we use “manual power” to crank out those volts of electricity. It’s not like we’re asking anyone to run the IronMan or anything here. Just a few turns of the arm, which pales in comparison to the amount of energy used to say….scoop a bowl of your favorite ice cream, or go wii bowling, or…you get the idea.

Read more…

Hack Alert – Crank Charge your Android!

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

The forums are filling up. The CrackBerry support email is getting lots of folks stating issues and we’re led to believe we may have an outage on our hands. Some folks are reporting slow web browsing, email delays and general connectivity issues. Thus far, seems limited to North America but, if you’re in another area and experiencing issues then please, let us know in the comments. I’m on Rogers and not seeing this yet, how about you all?

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry Alert: BlackBerry Internet Service outage?

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

Not too long ago we discussed keeping your Android device safe from malicious attacks; the general advice was that it doesn’t hurt to take a moment to look at what that cool app is requesting access to, before you download it. This week at the Blackhat security conference, a company by the name of Lookout detailed an app on the market that was extremely questionable in nature:

During our research, we found series of wallpaper applications in the Android Market are gathering seemingly unnecessary data.  The wallpaper applications that we analyzed transmitted several pieces of sensitive data to a server over an unencrypted network connection.  The data included the device’s phone number, subscriber identifier (e.g. IMSI), and the currently entered voicemail number on the phone (see below for technical details).  While this sort of data collection from a wallpaper application is certainly suspicious, there’s no evidence of malicious behavior.  There have been cases in the past on other mobile platforms where well-intentioned developers are simply over-zealous in their data gathering, without having malicious intent.

To be clear, while a simple wallpaper app needs access to such data is very suspect, as of this posting nothing malicious has been discovered in connection with the apps in question. Still, it’s a reminder of just how easily one can open their device to unauthorized access. While various figures are being used for the total number of app downloads, the smallest number being mentioned is 50,000.  There are plenty of security apps to choose from to help keep your data safe, including one from Lookout.

You can read more about Lookout’s report HERE; and while you’re at it, it’s worth reading this post on launcher spam.

Source: MyLookout blog

View full post on AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Everything Android.

Want access to 28,000 tasty recipes procured by the folks at Epicurious right on your Android phone? Then look no further than Epicurious’ new Recipes App for Android. Just like the iPhone version which has reached over 2 million downloads, you can now have a mini chef’s companion in your pocket. The Android version supports voice search, so go ahead and beg your phone for some delicious apple pie and see how many results come back. The app also has a shopping list feature so you don’t forget any of the ingredients you need. Just don’t go dropping your phone in some cake batter, because that wouldn’t have a good result.

View full post on Android Phone Fans

The Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA), meeting this week in San Antonio, is showcasing the latest technology for campuses.

e2Campus, a web-based emergency notification system, lets a school send instant multimodal alerts from one easy-to-use interface.

Powered by the Omnilert Network, e2Campus works by sending an omnilert to all communication devices and services: mobile phones (via SMS text messages), traditional phones (voice messages), desktop alerts, email accounts, web site pages, as well as existing infrastructure such as digital signage, PA systems and alert beacons across the campus. Alerts will also simultaneously reach popular social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Campus alert systems such as e2Campus integrate the schools’ existing technology infrastructure, eliminating bureaucratic and human bottlenecks to broadcast an urgent message.

Omnilert allows non-technical users to self-administer and manage time-sensitive communications to employees, students, tenants, first responders and others.

Phone dialer systems, sometimes used by public safety agencies for emergency alerts, can be slow. The fundamental problem with reverse calling systems, often used by 911 centers, is that they don’t work well during periods of high phone traffic.

For instance, wired and wireless phone lines were busy for hours during the terrorist attacks on September 11th. However, SMS text messages went through just fine because they have smaller bandwidth requirements.

PlantCML provides key technologies for public safety, Federal/DoD and corporate markets with call center applications, notification solutions and P25 Land Mobile Radio networks.

Automated Notification Systems like the GeoCast Web solution brings all telephone and GIS data together, for targeted communications with hundreds or even thousands of homes, schools, or businesses.

PlantCML’s Self-Registration Portal gathers contact information from the community-at-large, and puts it on a web-based map through Microsoft Bing. The latitude and longitude of the individual’s address are calculated, with the location quickly appearing on a digital, street-level display. If the position is incorrect, perhaps due to a typographical error, he or she can simply move a pin to correct it.

Robo calling is banned on cellular networks, although robocalls are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry for political organizations, charities, surveys and emergencies.

EADS and Alcatel-Lucent are developing LTE solutions for Project 25 public safety radios.

The Global Hawk RQ4-B UAV is equipped with a SIGINT package from EADS, which may also be used to gather location and number data from cellular phones, although that’s largely speculation.

Gathering location and phone numbers from ALL cellular phones in the United States might be helpful in an emergency. Alerts could be delivered to individuals as they entered or left a defined area. More people are dumping their land lines for cellular. But gathering location data surreptitiously would likely be controversial and (perhaps) illegal.

The FCC says half of all 911 calls come from wireless callers. In all, 99 percent of the US population is served by 9-1-1 (NENA).

Xtify, a geo-location platform, lets any developer integrate geo-targeted messaging into their applications. It’s available now for Google’s Android mobile operating system and later arriving to the Blackberry, Symbian, Windows Mobile and iPhone operating systems. It’s an opt-in system, of course.

Seesmic’s new Android Twitter app (right) includes Geotagging, Widgets, and Native Retweeting.

Related Dailywireless location-based stories include Xtify: Integrating Geo Targeting Messages , Transit TV in L.A., Tablet Revolution!, and How to Create Transit Applications, Flickr Bike, Bikes and BART Get Mapped, Traffic Cameras Get Smart, Road Radar for Traffic Flow, Google Earth Gets “Live” Overlay, Cell Bazaar, iPad Street View, 360 Degree Haiti Video, Microsoft’s Streetside: Indoors via Stills & Video, Live 360 Degree Streaming Video, 3D Mapping, Google Streetview on Cell Phones, The 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Gigapixel Man, Street View & Photosynth Head Home, Wireless Coverage at Indy 500, Live Map Integrates Photosynth 3D Tours,

View full post on dailywireless.org

Can you think of a technology retailer that sells accessories for a product they don’t carry? I know I’m having a hard time, and that’s what makes this so interesting. T-Mobile stores around the country are receiving shipments of cases and protective covers for the Nexus One. TmoToday takes the speculation a step further:

If you take a look at the above image, you’ll see that the device’s name isn’t the “Google” Nexus One; for the first time the phone is being branded as an HTC device. Also, there’s T-Mobile branding on the boxing around the accessories.

The suggestion that this is only T-Mobile’s way to offer more to the Nexus One owner or raise awareness of the device doesn’t seem logical.  I know I’ve never gained interest in a phone I didn’t have just by looking at a protective cover.  Given that for the salespeople the most profit is in the accessories, this could just be another outlet for them to make a sale.

We’ll all have to wait and see if more develops.

[Source TmoToday]

View full post on AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Android news.