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Low-end smartphones sold to Americans with low-income via a government-subsidized program contain unremovable malware, security firm Malware bytes said in a report.

According to the report of ZdNet: The smartphone model is Unimax (UMX) U686CL, a low-end Android-based smartphone made in China and sold by Assurance Wireless. The telco sells cell phones part of a government program that subsidizes phone service for low-income Americans. "In late 2019, we saw several complaints in our support system from users with a government-issued phone reporting that some of its pre-installed apps were malicious," Malwarebytes said in a report. The company said it purchased a UMX U686CL smartphone and analyzed it to confirm the reports it was receiving.

Comments
  • 2
    What was the function of that malware?
  • 2
    @Gregozor2121 My guess is a RAT.
  • 2
    My guess it is the usual Chinese crapware, that was signed with the system key, installed in the system, and allows more crapware to be installed automatically.
    Closer to a dropper, or an win installer that installs unwanted crapware.
  • 2
    @magicMirror accurate guess:

    "One of the pre-installed apps, which looks and operates as a wireless update program, automatically installs more apps without user consent, according to Malwarebytes."
  • 2
    @hjk101 I have a bit of experience with android malware.....
  • 2
    @magicMirror I have never experenced them before, tell me more.
  • 2
    @Gregozor2121 There is not much to tell.
    around 2011, the first actual malware for android showed up. It was the logical continuation of the mobile malware of the time - essentailly, a text chargeback malware that let your download a ringtone/home screen background/app that you could get for free. All android malware is a varient of that original one - some more complicated, some even simpler.
    Then some other totaly random stuff showed up later - like chinese system droppers, and something called carrierIQ. The End.
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