Stagefright malware is back! 'Worst Android bug in history' returns for a third time and could infect a BILLION phones.

 

FREE ANTI VIRUS - stagefright detector

 

In late 2015, mobile security firm Zimperium uncovered the Stagefright bug, touted as the mother of all Android vulnerabilities.

 

Now, Stagefright bug has returned in a new avatar called "Metaphor", Israel-based security research firm NorthBit reported.

 

If you’re still using an older Android phone, you should be VERY careful about the websites you visit.

 

Up to 275 million Android phones could be infected with malware simply by visiting dodgy websites, according to security firm NorthBit.

 

The exploit – called Metaphor – uses the Stagefright vulnerability, and can take over phones via dodgy websites.

 

Updated to add

 

A Google spokesman has been in touch to say: "Android devices with a security patch level of October 1, 2015 or greater are protected because of a fix we released for this issue (CVE-2015-3864) last year. As always, we appreciate the security community's research efforts as they help further secure the Android ecosystem for everyone.

 

Google released security patches to kill Stagefright's vulnerabilities, although not every Android phone and tablet can receive and install them: some manufacturers and network carriers were in no rush to update older models, leaving potentially millions of gadgets at the mercy of exploits like the one built by North-Bit.