Android users face a dangerous new security threat. Researchers revealed a hacking method called Pixnapping that steals Android users’ private data. It extracts information from installed apps in less than a minute.
What the hackers do is that they will implant a malware in your phone. The app utilizes Android API in order to make calls to other apps. The target apps which are bombarded by the requests will fetch the data by themselves. The machine actually takes the words as graphs. The people who commit the crime change the graphs to characters that can be read.
An attacker is capable of getting the two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. He can reach the personal messages and the emails that you have. The attacker will be able to monitor your exact movements. All the information that is coming out of the apps is at the mercy of the hacker. The only stuff that he cannot see are the ones which are not there.
This method has been found by the research team from the Universities of California and Washington. Other than that, the Carnegie Mellon University was also on board for this research. The researchers have released a very detailed and elaborate paper on the subject Pixnapping. Besides, data theft was the first demonstration on Google Pixel. The Samsung Galaxy S25 was also tested for vulnerability.
A malicious app uses an API to call legitimate apps on a device. The target apps unknowingly expose the sensitive data. The Android rendering pipeline is the entity turning over the data. The criminals execute some graphical operations on the pixels. Subsequently, the texts are recovered from the pixels.
Devices like Google Pixel are prone to attacks. A Samsung Galaxy S25 can be targeted by a hacker. The danger is that even the other Android devices don’t have immunity from this attack. This method can hack any phone running Android. It affects several manufacturers, not just one.
In September, Google had released a security patch. The patch is meant to close the security hole that the incident exploits. December will see the release of another update. The company does not stop to put up the improvements. People need to place their updates without delay.
The research team claim that even with the changes, attempts of the attack could partially succeed. Alterations may be unable to fend off all variants. The fundamental approach is still there which means that it is potentially effective. They might come up with brand new ways to do it. Keeping security up is an ongoing battle.
One of the best things a person can do to keep the hackers at bay is to be up to date with the security patch. The choice of where to get the apps is always between the users – only trust the stores that you are sure are safe. Do not ever give a chance to a suspicious app by downloading and using it. Be alert if your phone is acting abnormally and if so, take a step towards solving the problem. Along with all of that, use an anti-virus program for your mobile device.
Pixnapping circumvents security without needing root access, completes quickly, and requires hackers to have only minimal access to the target. It’s conceivable that traditional detection may not be able to spot it.
Always keep your Android up to date. Do keep track of what permission you grant to the different apps. The Google Play Protect feature will be another avenue to keep your device secure. The use of mobile antivirus software will be very beneficial indeed. Show a little more caution when dealing with new apps.
Also Read: Your Computer Mouse Spying On You: New Study Reveals Shocking Threat
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