News & Reviews:   malware

Smartphones have pretty much taken over almost everything. It has become our wallets, cameras, and personal data hubs, an all-in-one device. But this also makes them prime targets for cyber threats, which we have seen the rise of scams and spam over the years, especially since the pandemic.

Not all is bleak, though. At the same time, modern devices are more secure than ever thanks to significant improvements in operating systems and hardware-level protections. It makes sense for personal computers to have an anti-virus program to help guard against malicious attacks, but what about smartphones? Do you actually need an anti-virus app on your phone?

A highly sophisticated set of iPhone hacking techniques is believed to have infected tens of thousands of iOS devices simply through visits to websites. That said, what should you know about it?

Malaysia’s banking industry is stepping up its cybersecurity messaging, as member banks of the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) and the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) jointly urge customers to keep their web browsers and mobile devices fully updated. The move comes amid rising online scams and malware threats that increasingly exploit outdated software and unsupported operating systems.

Ransomware remains a devastating cyber threat, involving organizations from healthcare to education and governments to corporations. Today, Google Cloud announced a new, AI-powered defense for Google Drive particularly for Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows files.

Google is adding a new layer of protection to Android with the rollout of developer verification for all apps installed on certified Android devices. Announced by Suzanne Frey, VP of Product, Trust & Growth for Android, this initiative aims to curb the rise of malware and scams from sideloaded apps by ensuring every developer is verified before their app reaches users.

Kaspersky’s Digital Footprint Intelligence (DFI) team has revealed that more than 11 million gaming account credentials were leaked globally in 2024 due to infostealer malware.

Many people still think computer viruses are limited to Windows PCs. However, malware can not only be found in Mac computers today but also in mobile devices. In fact, Kaspersky recently shared details of a malware active since March 2024 - SparkCat.

Getting malware on your phone can be detrimental, especially when you go into any suspicious links or install them. In a continuing effort to fight against scams, Maybank has announced a new security feature on the MAE app to counter those.

A malicious campaign targeting Android devices worldwide is using thousands of Telegram bots to spread malware that steals SMS and 2FA passwords (OTPs) on more than 600 services. According to a Zimperium research report, it has been tracking the operation since February 2022 and found at least 107000 different malware samples linked to the campaign.

In general these days, most brands guarantee about 2 years' worth of Android updates and security patches, while a few promise up to 7 years. While we would always recommend getting a device with a newer Android version (it's easier to manage), sometimes your older device will still work fine.

Or maybe you're just feeling a bit reluctant to part with it and move to a newer device? Regardless of the reason, this time around, we're answering the question "Can you still use a phone or device with an older Android version?" Read on to find out.