Google partnered with mobile security firms to clear Play Store of malware and malicious apps

In an effort to better protect the Play Store from malware and malicious apps, Google has announced that it has partnered with the cybersecurity firms ESET, Lookout and Zimperium to launch a new project called the App Defense Alliance. According to Google, the goal of the new project is to unify malware and threat detection …

Apple scoffs at Google’s hack claims

Last week Google disclosed a large-scale hacking effort that it said targeted users of Apple devices But now Apple has gone on the offensive – angry in public, and absolutely incensed in private at what is being seen as something of a stitch up. Google is standing by its research. In a bold statement posted …

Mozilla will now block third-party tracking cookies and cryptomining by default

In a move seen as a swipe at Chrome, Firefox is continuing its fight against Facebook and Google’s online ad tracking empire. The browser, owned by Mozilla, will now block third-party tracking cookies by default. This Enhanced Tracking Protection will be automatically turned on for all global users as part of the standard setting. The …

Android banking trojan returns updated with ability to record the screens of infected devices

An Android banking trojan has returned with improvements which allow it to record the screens of infected devices while also adding new techniques that help the malware remain hidden from victims. First detailed by cybersecurity researchers at ThreatFabric in October last year, BianLian started life as a dropper for other forms of malware, most notably …

Cyber Crime Spikes: Android smartphones in South Africa, second-most hit by banking malware

Android smartphones in South Africa are the second-most targeted for banking malware, as malicious software attacks in general saw double-digit increases in the country, new research has revealed. South Africa saw malware attacks increase by 22% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, according to Kaspersky Lab, which held its annual Cyber Security Weekend in …

Cloudflare launches privacy Android and iOS apps to hide DNS traffic from prying ISPs

Cloudflare launched today official mobile apps for its 1.1.1.1 privacy-first DNS resolver service. Mobile apps for Android and iOS are now available on their respective app stores. The company first launched the 1.1.1.1 service to great fanfare on April 1, earlier this year. The service is a basic DNS server, but one for which Cloudflare …

Regulator implored to probe Android apps advertising to preschoolers

Several children’s apps on Google’s app store have been found to inappropriately lure youngsters to watch ads or make purchases, according to a pair of consumer groups that cited a new study in calling for an investigation by federal authorities. “Popular apps for preschoolers are rife with marketing,” Josh Golin, executive director of Campaign for …