The Best Android Apps for 2024

It's Better To Delete This App From Your Phone. It Sends Your Text Messages To Russia

This malicious Google Chrome clone is designed to trick users and steal their personal information.

There have been countless incidents of malware pretending to be utility applications on Android. Usually, the attackers are fairly predictable: they embed harmful code in generic, self-created apps, or simply copy well-known brands. This latest threat is slightly different.

AG Data has discovered a dangerous Google Chrome for Android clone. This version of the app, once installed, gains permission to make calls and read SMS messages, sending the collected data to servers in Russia. Despite being designed to steal your data and personal information, it maintains some of Chrome's original functionality, tricking users into thinking it is the actual app.

Similarly ThreatFabric, who monitor and analyze online threats to keep the public safe, recently identified a new Android Trojan, known as Brokewell, that disguises itself as a fake Google Chrome update. Once installed, the app is capable of recording user activity, capturing everything from text entries and clicks to app launches.

The process of infecting a user's device with this malware is relatively simple. It poses as a Google Chrome update, which upon installation gives the malware access to the device to do as it wishes.

These apps impersonate established brands, in this instance, Google Chrome, which are known to the public and presumed to be legitimate. The fake Google Chrome app allows you to browse the internet as normal, adding to the appearance of being the real app.

These fake Google Chrome apps have been revealed to pose significant threats to mobile banking. The combination of stealing data and remote device control makes it an excellent mobile banking malware. The app can observe all of your actions on your device, so when you connect to your mobile banking app, it will record your login details, gain access to your bank account, and then be able to steal your money.

To stay safe from fake apps on your phone, make sure that you download apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store. Read the reviews and ratings before installation, and be wary of apps with barely any reviews or very recent launch dates.

You should also keep your phone's operating system up to date to have the latest security patches. Importantly, avoid clicking on suspicious links - these can be received by text or found on websites. Finally, pay attention to app permissions. If an app requests access to sensitive information that seems unnecessary, it is best to avoid it.

IPhone And Android Owners Told To 'end The Call' Right Away In Warning Over Two AI 'voice Scams' That Strike In Seconds

END a phone call right away if you spot the signs you're talking to artificial intelligence – or risk putting yourself in serious danger.

The quality and quantity of scams using AI is growing, and cyber-experts say you shouldn't take any chances.

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You might think you're talking to someone you know and even trust – but are you really?Credit: Getty

It might be the case that criminals are using AI to clone the voices of loved ones or colleagues to trick you into handing over cash.

Or maybe they're calling you to record a few seconds of your voice – enough for an AI to replicate it.

There are endless uses for AI in cyber-crime, according to security expert Simon Newman.

"Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used by cyber criminals, making phishing attacks harder to spot," Simon, CEO of Cyber Resilience Centre for London & International Cyber Expo Advisory Council Member, told The U.S. Sun.

"Earlier this month, the FBI issued a warning about the escalating threat posed by cyber criminals using artificial intelligence.

"And we've seen an increase in attacks where cyber criminals have impersonated someone the victim knows well, such as a family member."

GOOD CALL?

AI scams can be extremely convincing – so much so that spotting "mistakes" can be very difficult.

Instead, you'll need to pay attention to the context of the call and ask yourself if it makes sense.

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If it doesn't, hang up.

Simple question that will stump AI voice clones

"People should be wary of calls from unknown numbers or from what may at first appear to be family members asking for money," Simon explained.

"It's always best to be cautious and if you are in any doubt, end the call."

When you're asking for sensitive info or money on the phone, make sure to verify the request through another method.

This is especially important if you've been contacted out of the blue – and on an unknown number.

Consider calling the company or person directly on the correct number and checking there.

Don't use any contact details given to you on the phone as they may be fraudulent.

ELECTION ANTICS

It's not just scams that AI is being used for either.

Simon warned that AI will also play a part in upcoming elections, and users will need to be savvy to avoid being hoodwinked by fake content.

"We've also got an election in the UK in July and one in the US in November," Simon added.

"Cyber criminals are likely to use these events to impersonate political leaders in order to influence voters."

Like fake AI calls, deepfakes on the internet can be convincing – so question everything you see, especially if it's making a bold claim or urgent request.

AI ROMANCE SCAMS – BEWARE!

Watch out for criminals using AI chatbots to hoodwink you...

The U.S. Sun recently revealed the dangers of AI romance scam bots – here's what you need to know:

AI chatbots are being used to scam people looking for romance online. These chatbots are designed to mimic human conversation and can be difficult to spot.

However, there are some warning signs that can help you identify them.

For example, if the chatbot responds too quickly and with generic answers, it's likely not a real person.

Another clue is if the chatbot tries to move the conversation off the dating platform and onto a different app or website.

Additionally, if the chatbot asks for personal information or money, it's definitely a scam.

It's important to stay vigilant and use caution when interacting with strangers online, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Be skeptical of anyone who seems too perfect or too eager to move the relationship forward.

By being aware of these warning signs, you can protect yourself from falling victim to AI chatbot scams.

Samsung Is Finally Cloning The IPhone X, But It Still Refuses To Steal The Notch

When it comes to software features, Apple loves nothing more than to look to Android and copy various features that might improve its own mobile platform. There are countless examples of Apple "taking inspiration" from Android. (Except when it comes to notifications — why oh why won't Apple steal Android's notifications!?) Then, when it comes to hardware and physical designs, Android phone makers steal anything and everything Apple does. Historically they've been somewhat subtle about it, but this year they're going all in, shamelessly cloning Apple's iPhone X by the dozens. No, seriously, there are actually dozens of new Android phones that copy Apple's iPhone X. You can see 20 of them right here, and even more have been announced since then.

Nearly every Android phone maker on the planet has copied Apple's iPhone X at this point, and more Android-powered iPhone clones are due to be released in the coming months. In a bit of hilarious irony, however, there's one Android phone vendor that hasn't yet copied the iPhone X: Samsung. That's right, the company that wrote the book on stealing Apple's designs is one of the few companies left that hasn't stolen Apple's iPhone X design. That wasn't a figure of speech, by the way. Samsung literally wrote a book about how to steal Apple's iPhone designs.

We're almost halfway through 2018 and Samsung has yet to release a smartphone with a notch in the display like the iPhone X. As of now, there's still no sign of a notched Samsung Galaxy phone coming anywhere down the pike. We know Samsung has toyed with notched phone designs, but nothing has materialized yet. Samsung's Infinity display design is simply too sleek to ditch for a notch, and we're happy Samsung is sticking with an original design on its flagship phones.

Of course, Samsung doesn't need a notch to copy the iPhone X.

Before we discuss Samsung's upcoming new smartphone that just leaked, let's first take a look at some existing Samsung smartphones. Head over to GSMArena and check out the Samsung page. Scroll through it a bit — don't worry, we'll wait. Here's a screenshot of what you'll see:

Notice any similarities between the backs of all those Samsung smartphones? That's right, they all have cameras that are centrally positioned. It's sort of Samsung's thing.

Then Apple made a smartphone that looks like this:

And now, wouldn't you know it, Samsung is making a smartphone that looks like this:

Isn't that weird!?

The image above comes from a user on Chinese microblogging site Weibo whose name loosely translates to HHP Good. It was posted earlier this week, and it shows an unreleased Samsung smartphone called the Galaxy A9 Star. The front looks just like any other smartphone out there, but the back is unmistakably modeled after Apple's iPhone X. Samsung has been making smartphones with centrally positioned cameras on the back for years. Now, less than half a year following Apple's iPhone X release, Samsung is suddenly switching it up and making a phone with the exact same vertically oriented dual-lens camera as Apple's flagship iPhone. Mmm hmm.

Here are some more leaked photos of the Samsung Galaxy A9 Star:

Here's an official poster for the Galaxy A9 Star and Galaxy A9 Star Lite that was leaked by another Weibo user:

Samsung's new Galaxy A9 Star and Galaxy A9 Star Lite smartphones are expected to be released in the coming weeks, though they'll likely be reserved only for certain markets like China. A wider release isn't expected, and the phones will likely never reach US shores. That's probably for the best, especially considering a court recently decided that Samsung has to pay Apple more than half a billion dollars for copying the iPhone and iPad all those years ago.

It looks like some habits are tough to break.

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