ZooPark: An Android Nightmare
Have you ever second guessed the security of the conversations, media, passwords, or even apps you use on your phone? If you’re like most people, you haven’t – you trust the palm-size device that you protect with your life to do the same for you. So what would you do if you found out all your device activities could all be tracked and stored without you knowing?
If this frightens you, then ZooPark is your worst nightmare. ZooPark is an advanced type of malware conceived and refined over four generations that can spy on Android devices. The spyware can monitor and withdraw information such as browser history, photos and videos, passwords, call records and data from secure apps (such as WhatsApp). It also can log audio - all surreptitiously. While ZooPark targets are mostly in the Middle East, we all can strengthen our device security practices.
Takeaways: Nothing is as secure as you may be told or sold that it is. Here are some ways you can protect yourself and your phone:
Download apps from trusted sources – read the reviews & ratings and do a little extra research online.
Refrain from viewing sensitive data on public WiFi networks.
Install a security app – for example Bitdefender Mobile Security can provide an extra layer of defense for Android phones.