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The use of smartphones brought to the surface significant concerns regarding the safety of personal data. Since its launch almost two decades ago, Android has established its dominance as the most widely used mobile operating system in the global market.
On the other hand, being a leader also comes with some challenges in securing the system from constant cyber attacks. Even unintentional vulnerabilities created by app developers and device manufacturers can make the operating system a target for malicious intrusions.
Google is constantly working on implementing the latest technologies to try to intercept attacks. Most of the time, these efforts pay off, but sometimes, not even the best protection can safeguard you from swindlers. In the past, we had several personal data leaks from the Android systems, which led to firmer protection measures.
Since there is no such thing as an impenetrable system you should know how to quickly protect yourself and delete your personal info from Google search. This can spare you a lot of grief in the long run, and possibly protect at least part of your private data.
The 2011 “DroidDream” Incident
In 2011, a significant Android malware incident occurred, known as the “DroidDream” malware trojan attack. The attack gained root access to a device running Android 2.2 Froyo and earlier OS. It affected a number of apps available in the Google Play Store market, some of which had been downloaded millions of times. Not only did the hackers swipe millions of phones, but they also left a backdoor for potential attacks in the future.
To this day, third-party apps remain one of the weakest links in all operating systems, including Android. The incident was particularly concerning because it revealed the vulnerability, raising eyebrows about the strength and security of phones, other devices like tablets, and even desktop computers.
The 2014 “Stagefright”
This famous incident was a huge oversight on Google’s part, especially affecting Android versions 2.2 Froyo to 5.1.1 Lollipop. The Android media library was left wide open for attacks, clearing all personal data, including pictures and videos, from users’ phones. All the attackers needed to do was send a message to the targeted user’s device, and the exploit could automatically run in the background.
It was estimated that over 95% of Android devices were vulnerable to the Stagefright exploit, putting millions of mobile and tablet device users at risk. The aftermath caused a ripple effect on all versions of Android-based operating systems, with Google app developers working tirelessly to release patches in an attempt to fix the vulnerability.
The 2020 “Clickjacking” Bug and “App Permissions” Issues
Look at these vulnerabilities and issues within the Android OS. It seems like attackers are always one step ahead of Google developers. In 2020, new bugs emerged, like “clickjacking,” which allows attackers to trick users into clicking on malicious links that lead to security breaches. These invasions of personal data are partly due to users’ lack of awareness and proactive approach, which attackers used to take advantage of.
Another area of concern is the growing issue of app permissions within the Android and app ecosystem. Many apps request access to unnecessary personal data and even a camera/microphone in order to function. For instance, a simple game app will prompt you for permission to access all your media and files, microphone, location, and sometimes contacts. This is way too much information to ask for a simple gaming app.
So, just because there’s an app for that, should you really install it? One needs to think wisely and only download and install apps from reliable and trustworthy sources.
Incidents like these have raised concerns among Android users, and since then, Google’s developers have been adding new layers of security to the latest Android versions to strengthen the operating system’s security.
Concluding Thoughts
The history of Android data breaches, personal data leaks, and countless cyberattacks that have left millions of users vulnerable is an eye-opener and a plain reminder that the personal information stored on our mobile devices is never truly safe. This is clearly evident as even one of the biggest tech companies in the world continues to struggle with cyberattacks.
So, it is always recommended to stay cautious, make sure your security settings are always updated, and think twice before granting permissions to the newly installed apps. You need to keep an eye on the changes because your data is always at risk.
