Security Blog

[Press released on 19 Feb 2014] The Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) today has successfully completed its annual drill to test the response capability of leading Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRT) from the Asia Pacific economies. APCERT involved the participation...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (21 Feb 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@hkcert....

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (14 Feb 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@hkcert....

  Did you have apps crashing problem on your Android phone? Sometimes, application’s error may cause your phone running abnormally. Occasionally, you have to reset the system (restore to factory setting) in order to return the phone to normal. However, ...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (07 Feb 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@hkcert....

February 2014 Issue of Security Newsletter is available now: /my_url/en/newsletter/1402   Cover Story Cyber Security Incidents Surge 52%, HKCERT Warns of Rising Ransomware & Mobile Attacks HKCERT releases "Botnet Detection and Cleanup" guideline Hot Topic Hong...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (30 Jan 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@hkcert....

 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 January, we have downloaded 167 apps from Play Store, where 6 apps have been identified as high risk. 1 of them was removed from Play Store (on or before 28-January). 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: 167 apps Unable to download via the system: 33 apps Downloaded date: 6-January 2014 List of the downloaded apps: "Appendix 1" [download]   Analysis Overview   In this analysis, 167 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 167 scanned apps, 6 apps were identified as security high risk. These 6 Apps were identified with the following high risk behavior signatures Android.Trojan.Generic, Android.Adware.AirPush, Android.AdWare.KyView, ApplicUnwnt, Android.Adware.Dowgin, Android.Adware.Domob, and Android.Adware.LeadBolt.   List of security high risk apps   Application High risk behavior signature / Ad plug-in Malware detection ratio by VirusTotal Status # 1. New Year Frames 2014  v 1 Category: New Free Applications Installs: 50,000-250,000 High risk behavior description: It can obtain SIM operator name, obtain SIM status, connect to the Internet, call camera application, make phone call, and send out phone information. Android.Adware.AirPush Android.Trojan.Generic 10/48 [link] Available on play store 2. Draw Shapes by BabyBus  v4.22 Category: New Free Applications Installs: 50,000-250,000 High risk behavior description: It can obtain SIM operator name, 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. Android.Adware.KyView Android.Trojan.Generic 7/47 [link] Available on play store 3. Fruits Link Deluxe  v1.0.0 Category: Top Free Application Installs: 5,000-10,000 High risk behavior description: It can obtain SIM operator name, obtain SIM status, read phone number, connect to the Internet, call camera application, make phone call, and send out phone information. Android.Trojan.Generic Android.Adware.AirPush ApplicUnwnt 9/43 [link] Removed from play store 4. Mike's World  v1.0.8 Category: Top Free Application Installs: >250,000 High risk behavior description: It can obtain SIM status, read phone number, enable Bluetooth automatically, enable camera automatically, enable media recorder, connect to the Internet, call camera application, make phone call, and send out phone information. Android.Trojan.Generic Android.Adware.LeadBolt 4/47 [link] Available on play store 5. 博雅鬥地主  v4.6 Category: New Free Application Installs: >250,000 High risk behavior description: It can obtain SIM status, read phone number, enable camera automatically, connect to the Internet, and send...

  Favourite Security Reads of the Week (24 Jan 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@hkcert....

Botnet is one of the major security threats nowadays. If our devices are part of botnet, they will be controlled by attackers to participate in some illegal activities; with botnet, attackers can launch sophisticated and destructive attacks, which result in wider information leak and serious...