Experts: 900 million Android smartphones are vulnerable to cyber attacks – BBC Russian

Mark Ward Correspondent BBC BBC Technology, Las Vegas

Image caption Errors were found in the device, equipped with microprocessors from the company Qualcomm

The software security system that is used in hundreds of millions of Android smartphones, has found a gap that can give hackers full access the data stored on the devices.

Errors have been discovered by researchers at the company Checkpoint software running on microprocessors American firm Qualcomm.

The Israeli company report says that these processors are installed around 900 million smartphones based on the Android platform.

However, while there is no evidence that hackers are already using this vulnerability

“device security. I’m pretty sure that you will notice how hackers use these mistakes, after three or four months. It is always a question of who will breach the first – the bad guys or the good “, – says Michael Shaulov, managing head of mobile at Checkpoint

Here’s a list of smartphones that are at risk:.

• BlackBerry Priv and Dtek50
• Blackphone Blackphone 1 and 2
• Google Nexus 5X, Nexus 6 and Nexus 6P
• HTC One, HTC M9 and HTC 10
• LG G4, LG G5, and LG V10
• The new model is powered by Moto X Motorola
• OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3
• The American version of the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung S7 Edge
• Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Shaulov said that it took about six months to detect an error in the code used by Qualcomm engineers.

She was in the software, which is treated with the schedule, as well as the code that controls the exchange of data between different processes within the device.

With this error, the hacker will be able to gradually get more and more control over smartphone and stored on its data.

Image copyright AP

Image caption Using bugs, hackers can gradually gain access to stored on the device according to

Researchers at the Checkpoint at the beginning of the year gave all the information about the company’s error Qualcomm.

Those, in turn, were to fix all the flaws and use in their factories improved versions.

In addition, Qualcomm has released a correction code for smartphone manufacturers and mobile operators. However, it is unclear how many of these companies issued updates for existing devices in use

The company Checkpoint also made QuadRooter Scanner is a free application that can test how each device is subject to the virus:. It verifies downloaded and installed whether fix the phone for the code.

Shaulov also noted that users of smartphones on the Android platform is to download applications only from the official Google Play online shop, if they want to protect themselves from the virus.

“Owners of smartphones should contact either those who sold them the phone, or with a mobile operator or a device manufacturer and ask them about the fixes to the code, “- he said,

Representatives of the company Qualcomm has not yet responded to a request from the BBC BBC. comment on the situation.