Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Security Alert: Flaw Found in Android

A security flaw has been found in Android devices that are not running the latest version of Android.  This flaw allowed malware to exploit security certificates to access data on your phone or tablet.  The latest Android update in April contained a fix for this problem, but Google says over 80 percent of Android users are still using a vulnerable version.

Fortunately, this problem now only affects those who have installed apps from third-party app stores.  If you have only used the Google Play Store (or you have not installed any additional apps), your phone is not vulnerable.  By default, Android blocks using third-party app stores, so if you are unsure, the chances are good that you do not have this enabled on your device.

To see what version of Android you are using, go to the Settings app and scroll all the way to the bottom to "About Device".  You will see your current version under "Android Version".  (The latest version is 4.4.2.)

To see if you are allowing the installation of apps from other app stores, go to the Settings app.  You will be looking for an option listed as "Unknown Sources".  In some versions, it is under the "Applications" option and in others it is under the "Security" option on the main menu of Settings.  If you have looked through all the menus under Settings and cannot find this option, then it is possible that your wireless carrier has locked you out of that feature.

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