ESET®, a global pioneer in proactive internet security for 25-years, today announced the availability of a free Android app - ESET Stagefright Detector – which helps users determine if their Android device is affected by the critical Stagefright exploit. The app is available in the Google Play Store now.
First discussed at Black Hat 2015 last week, the Stagefright vulnerability allows attackers to gain control of Android phones via the Stagefright library, an open-source media player used by 95 percent of Android devices. The vulnerability gives attackers access to most of the victim’s phone data including email, photos, and personal information by simply sending an MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) message to the victim’s Android smartphone.
ESET StageFright Detector works with Android 4.0 and older versions of the Android operating system which includes {insert names of the Android OS versions… using the names would be appropriate for SEO and for a more general audience}. The new ESET app alone cannot repair the vulnerability, however once users activate the app and determine whether their Android smartphone is vulnerable they can click on the “Learn More about Stagefright” icon. This takes users to the ESET Knowledgebase article which provides safety steps to protect their data.
ESET recommends all Android smartphone users follow these steps to ensure their data is safe:
- Enable automatic updates on their device(s) to ensure they receive the latest patches from the device manufacturer or carrier
- Block MMS from unknown senders
- Disable automatic MMS retrieval in the Messaging setup
- Use a browser that is not vulnerable to Stagefright (for example, Firefox 38+)
ESET provides robust mobile security solutions for both business and consumer use. This free application should help users affected by the Stagefright vulnerability take better control of their privacy and security when using their Android devices. Additional information on the Stagefright vulnerability can be found on ESET’s blog, WeLiveSecurity, and on the ESET Knowledgebase.
About ESET
Since 1987, ESET® has been developing record award-winning security software that now helps over 100 million users to Enjoy Safer Technology. Its broad security product portfolio covers all popular platforms and provides businesses and consumers around the world with the perfect balance of performance and proactive protection. The company has a global sales network covering 180 countries, and regional offices in Bratislava, San Diego, Singapore and Buenos Aires. For more information visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.