Android smartphones vulnerable to ‘dirty stream’ attacks via Google Play Store apps – report

Are you an Android smartphone user? A major security vulnerability in Android apps has been spotted by Microsoft, putting your device apps at huge risk. The security vulnerability is being called a “dirty stream” attack that could give malicious actors a chance to hijack popular apps or access sensitive information from Android apps. Dirty Stream malware can affect multiple apps on your device, requiring immediate action to avoid any potential scams. Learn about security vulnerabilities and how you can protect your device.

What is a “Dirty Stream” attack?

A dirty stream attack is a “path traversal-associated vulnerability pattern” that Microsoft found in a recent investigation. According to Microsoft reportThe vulnerability has the potential to manipulate your device, giving hackers a chance to exploit the flaw and hack your Android apps.

The company highlighted that this threat could expose our Android devices to arbitrary code execution and token theft. This threat has affected many popular apps in terms of how they share information with other apps. “We have identified multiple vulnerable applications in the Google Play Store representing more than four billion installations,” Microsoft said. These popular apps include Xiaomi Inc. File Manager, WPS Office and others. However, the problem can only be fixed through an update of the app.

How Android users can keep their devices secure

• Avoid sideloading apps as they may contain malicious code. Download apps only from official app stores like Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store, or Amazon Appstore.
• Make sure to enable Google Play Protect as it thoroughly scans for viruses in new and existing Android apps.

• Take advantage of third-party Android antivirus apps like McAfee to protect your device from hacking, malicious code, viruses, and other threats.
• Keep your Android device updated with the latest OS upgrades and security patches to fix device vulnerabilities and bugs. This will keep your device protected as well as in optimal performance.

These are some essential steps that users need to follow to protect their electronic devices and avoid falling victim to a scam.

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