Datascribe Technologies Inc.

‘Godless’ has affected over 8.5 lakh devices globally

A family of malware called Godless has affected over 8,50,000 devices worldwide, according to a report on . The report says more than half (46.19 per cent) of the devices alone have been affected in India, followed by Indonesia at 10.27 per cent and Thailand at 9.47 per cent.

“We came across a family of mobile malware called Godless (detected as ANDROIDOS_GODLESS.HRX) that has a set of rooting exploits in its pockets,” says Trend Micro.

The site reveals Godless can target any Android device running Android 5.1 or earlier. Malicious apps with Godless can be found on prominent app stores, including Play. It claims 90 per cent devices globally are already running on affected versions.

The site explains that once users download a malicious app, the malware waits until the device’s screen is turned off. It then roots the device and drops a payload as a system app that cannot be easily removed.

The malware installs unwanted apps on user’s device, leading to unwanted apps. In fact, these threats can also be used to install backdoors and spy on users, according to the site.

Users can however, restore to better practices when it comes to downloading app to avoid malware. “When downloading apps, regardless if it’s a utility tool or a popular game, users should always review the developer. Unknown developers with very little or no background information may be the source of these malicious apps,” says Veo Zhang, Mobile Threats Analyst.
He adds it is always best to download apps from trusted stores such as Google Play and .

Credits: indianexpress.com

builds world’s fastest

-China has built the world’s fastest supercomputer using locally made , a survey said Monday, the first time the country has taken the top spot without using US technology.

The machine is twice as fast as the previous number one, which was built in China with chips from US firm Intel, the Top500 survey of supercomputers said on its website www.top500.org.

China also has more top-ranked supercomputers than the US for the first time since the survey began, with 167 compared to 165.

Located at China’s national supercomputer centre in the eastern city of , the Sunway TaihuLight will be used for climate modelling and life science research.

Its performance ends “speculation that China would have to rely on Western technology to compete effectively in the upper echelons of supercomputing,” the survey’s website said.

The supercomputers on the Top500 list, which is produced twice a year, are rated based on speed in a benchmark test by experts from Germany and the US.

Of the top ten fastest computers, two are in China, with four in the US, the ranking said.

Others are in Japan, Germany, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.

China has poured money into big-ticket science and technology projects as it seeks to become a high-tech leader.

It plans to open the world’s largest radio telescope in southeastern China this year, state-media reported.
But despite some gains the country’s scientific output still lags behind, and its universities generally fare poorly in global rankings.

Credits: nation.com.pk/