Goolge Android robot (Photo : FastTechCDN)
On July 26, Monday Forbes reported about Stagefright, malware sent through one text message. It was a security vulnerability of the Android multimedia tool discovered by Zimperium zLabs, which could hit 95 percent of all Google OS devices including smartphones and tablets. The good news is that Short Message Service (SMS) app developers have launched short-term patches to prevent Stagefright from automatically gaining access to mobile cameras, while Google has promised a Nexus update.
Only one text is needed for the malicious message to access an Android phone's images or Bluetooth. A total system update would be needed for a permanent fix, although no Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has reportedly released one, according to Android Headlines.
The temporary security patch from Textra SMS's developer Delicious Inc. prevents Stagefright from gaining automatic access to a mobile device's camera. It stops newly-arrived video Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messages.
Delicious' move shows its dedication to customer service and could prompt developers and OEMs to find a long-term solution to the security exploit. The updates for Chomp and Textra SMS are available at the Google Play Store.
Meanwhile, Google has announced that it will likely release a Nexus smartphone patch next week to kill the Stagefright bug, according to Komando. Users must install the fix and then reboot their device.
The bad news is that the patch will only work on a small number of Android devices, and it is uncertain when future updates will be launched. However, it is a first step. Google is aware of how serious the threat is to its products and is being proactive in finding a solution for all Android phones.
