NEW ANDROID MALWARE ALERT

How to protect your device

What’s the threat?

Godless isn’t an alternative definition of smartphones – not in this context, anyway. It’s new mobile malware that can root 90 per cent of Android phones and tablets.

Rooting an Android device - gaining deep system access by unofficial means - is not something we’d recommend even with the best intentions. People do it to remove built-in apps and hack system settings, but it can break vital security barriers.

Godless roots your device without your knowledge and then acts like a Trojan, downloading whatever junk it wants. This may include malicious apps that spam you with adverts, or backdoor apps that read or change your private data.

According to security firm Trend Micro, which discovered Godless, ‘virtually any’ device running Android 5.1 (Lollipop) or earlier is vulnerable ( www. snipca.com/21030). That means an astonishing 90 per cent of all Android devices, despite the fact that Lollipop is an old version of the operating system. The latest version is Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow).

Godless spreads via phishing, which makes it hard to avoid. Trend Micro gives the example of Summer Flashlight, a harmless-looking app made by ‘Crazy Wifi Team’ that’s actually a conduit for Godless. At the time of writing, Godless has infected more than 850,000 devices.

What should you do?

Update Android! That’s the single best way to keep your devices safe. Don’t forget about that old phone you keep for emergencies. If it won’t support Android 6.0 or later, switch off its mobile data and Wi-fi access when you’re not using it.

An antivirus app such as Kaspersky Internet Security ( www.snipca. com/21034) can help, but it can’t protect you against phishing. Only ever install apps from trusted developers. If in doubt, run a search to establish the credentials of an app.