[Macworld]

Post your comments for Symantec finds fake Google Android update here

[isorod]

That's freaking scary.

[Macnutjohn]

Yeah that whole "open" thing is really going well.......

[Macnutjohn]

"Google has patched the vulnerabilities in Android versions above 2.2.2, but many Android users do not have the latest version of the software."

More like "most users", thanks to the carriers forced fragmentation of the OS.........

[Biallystock]

If iOS ever develops a large enough market share hackers will start attacking it also.

…oh sorry, getting my excuses mixed up.

[jdb8167]

I'm guessing we won't see much comment from the resident fandroids on this one.

This is the first time I've heard that over the air updates is a reason for slow upgrades. I guess that makes sense and it puts the frequent calls for Apple to do over the air updates in context.

[SockRolid]

..."many Android users do not have the latest version of the software"...

The understatement of the year. There are brand-new xdroid devices shipping with 1.6. Unbelievable.

...“Due to the nature of Android in its current state"...

Fragmented. Hopelessly, irretrievably fragmented. And just wait until Google gets (tries to get?) serious in the pad computing space. Oh the humanity!

[lkrupp]

This will be ignored by the tech media. Only Apple gets slapped around for security issues. With Windows and now Android apparently, stuff like this is just part of living, an assumption that must be dealt with. Anti-virus apps for Android will be on the market any day now and you can take that to the bank.

[archangel1701]

Biallystock, on 10 March 2011 - 12:28 PM, said:

If iOS ever develops a large enough market share hackers will start attacking it also.

…oh sorry, getting my excuses mixed up.

lmao

[leicaman]

lkrupp, on 10 March 2011 - 01:38 PM, said:

This will be ignored by the tech media. Only Apple gets slapped around for security issues. With Windows and now Android apparently, stuff like this is just part of living, an assumption that must be dealt with. Anti-virus apps for Android will be on the market any day now and you can take that to the bank.

Can't wait to see what hits the battery life and processor cycles take on Android devices from anti-malware apps, necessary to protect their open systems.

[klahanas]

jdb8167, on 10 March 2011 - 01:32 PM, said:

I'm guessing we won't see much comment from the resident fandroids on this one.

This is the first time I've heard that over the air updates is a reason for slow upgrades. I guess that makes sense and it puts the frequent calls for Apple to do over the air updates in context.

OK. I'll bite. (Though I would drop Android as fast as I dropped iOS if a better, yet open, system came along). Android, by the way, is not completely open, the carrier's are seeing to that. It's much more open than iOS, however.

Overall, if I can't run my system as I choose, and other's have authority over it, as far as I'm concerned, I have functionally been hit with malware. To me this is regardless of whether it's done over "legitimate" or illicit routes. In ANY computer system, the USER bears responsibility. Let's say you have a luxury car, and you may live in the suburbs, you may choose to drive to the "dark side of town", or downtown. You do so at your own peril, but how would you like it if you were FORBIDDEN (via a GPS "electric fence"?) from ever leaving the suburbs IN YOUR OWN CAR. You might be safer, but would you be free? What's the meaning of car ownership? Please forgive the dramatics, but I'm trying to magnify the point so that it could more easily be seen.

Now, many users jailbreak, root, use custom ROMS, etc. If they don't know what they're doing, they will get burned. These are complicated devices, and even under normal circumstances they are difficult to maintain. Closed systems encourage such behavior. Just like going downtown in your luxury car though, it's upon the driver to pick a safe garage, know where they are going, and what they are likely to run into. Just like going downtown, people should be vigilant, but the victim is not at fault. It's the good guys vs. the bad guys! Good guys don't rob luxury cars, bad guys do!

Just today, Safari was hacked in literally five seconds! Is anyone immune? No. But one can be vigilant. I'm not being sarcastic, but I worry for Apple users when (not if) an especially virulent piece of malware get's unleashed on the platform and the smug, largely non-geek, and largely affluent user base still has their head in the sand.

[klahanas]

lkrupp, on 10 March 2011 - 01:38 PM, said:

This will be ignored by the tech media. Only Apple gets slapped around for security issues. With Windows and now Android apparently, stuff like this is just part of living, an assumption that must be dealt with. Anti-virus apps for Android will be on the market any day now and you can take that to the bank.

And societies have police departments, and living things immune systems, for largely the same reasons. Like anti-virus software they may consume resources, but it's the responsible thing to do.

This post has been edited by klahanas: 10 March 2011 - 08:39 PM

[axxsmith]

klahanas, on 10 March 2011 - 08:09 PM, said:

jdb8167, on 10 March 2011 - 01:32 PM, said:

I'm guessing we won't see much comment from the resident fandroids on this one.

This is the first time I've heard that over the air updates is a reason for slow upgrades. I guess that makes sense and it puts the frequent calls for Apple to do over the air updates in context.

OK. I'll bite. (Though I would drop Android as fast as I dropped iOS if a better, yet open, system came along). Android, by the way, is not completely open, the carrier's are seeing to that. It's much more open than iOS, however.

Overall, if I can't run my system as I choose, and other's have authority over it, as far as I'm concerned, I have functionally been hit with malware. To me this is regardless of whether it's done over "legitimate" or illicit routes. In ANY computer system, the USER bears responsibility. Let's say you have a luxury car, and you may live in the suburbs, you may choose to drive to the "dark side of town", or downtown. You do so at your own peril, but how would you like it if you were FORBIDDEN (via a GPS "electric fence"?) from ever leaving the suburbs IN YOUR OWN CAR. You might be safer, but would you be free? What's the meaning of car ownership? Please forgive the dramatics, but I'm trying to magnify the point so that it could more easily be seen.

Now, many users jailbreak, root, use custom ROMS, etc. If they don't know what they're doing, they will get burned. These are complicated devices, and even under normal circumstances they are difficult to maintain. Closed systems encourage such behavior. Just like going downtown in your luxury car though, it's upon the driver to pick a safe garage, know where they are going, and what they are likely to run into. Just like going downtown, people should be vigilant, but the victim is not at fault. It's the good guys vs. the bad guys! Good guys don't rob luxury cars, bad guys do!

Just today, Safari was hacked in literally five seconds! Is anyone immune? No. But one can be vigilant. I'm not being sarcastic, but I worry for Apple users when (not if) an especially virulent piece of malware get's unleashed on the platform and the smug, largely non-geek, and largely affluent user base still has their head in the sand.

With all due respect, please don't take this personally as I am just here to continue the discussion.

1. So a sophisticated user like you feels like a prisoner because your device isn't under your complete control. But most users (>99%) are not so sophisticated, and seeing your (hypothetical) mother lose her life savings to some hacker in China when she was using the Android device you bought for her for Christmas is not worth it.

2. The car analogy fails too, you and your mother still have to get a driver's license, insurance, and registration to use that car. License plates too.

3. So what if Safari was hacked? It's been hacked before and it'll be hacked again. Nothing is fool-proof, and one can only make your best product fool-resistant. Right now, there are a lot of Android users feeling like fools....

Anyway, I am glad you are here to play the Devil's Advocate. No disrespect intended by any of my comments.

This post has been edited by axxsmith: 10 March 2011 - 10:26 PM

[Macnutjohn]

"Overall, if I can't run my system as I choose, and other's have authority over it, as far as I'm concerned, I have functionally been hit with malware."

Oh, kinda like Google pulling the "kill" switch on those apps isn't "others having authority"?????? Kinda looks like Google has the REAL authority over Android to me.....