Five questions Hundreds of thousands of people risk losing their smartphones, tablets and apps be taken thereon by malicious hackers. Before that warn security experts who discovered a new vulnerability in widely used software. Walk you risk and what can you do about it? Five questions.
1. Where is the leak?
It involves the Glibc bug, which can come in all devices that connect to the Internet and in apps on those devices.
The leak is in the so-called library. This is a set of codes makers, for example, use apps over and over again, so they are not for each application they make all over again have to start.
The problem arises when people on their device or an app to visit a website. Due to an error in the conscious library can then create space for hackers to execute code on the machines of unsuspecting people. In other words: the hackers are "inside" and can open any programs they want and take control.
2. How long has it been known danger?
Since July last year, when the problem first came to Google's attention. But when was the resolution not a priority, the BBC reports.
Negligent assessment? ,, It can happen, '' says tech editor Sander van Voorst of Tweakers. ,, Google receives numerous reports of bugs every day. Sometimes at first sight not to estimate how serious something. ''
3. Walk your devices at risk?
That depends on what operating system you use. If your Windows (Microsoft) or OS X (Apple) is used, there is nothing to worry about.
Linux users run some risk. Worldwide it goes to (rough) estimate to more than 83 million people, thinks Linux Counter.
It is not clear how many there are Dutch users.
4. What can you do about it?
The software update on all your devices. When Google recently realized yet the seriousness of the problem, the technology giant made with another company an update to close the leak.
One update sounds simple, but you have to be take action to correct the problem. Many Linux users have their devices and apps does not update automatically. ,, They often have an understanding of technology and want to keep control, '' said tech expert Van Voorst.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) gives detailed suggestions for updates.
5. departed Is it safe?
Largely, but not entirely. The NCSC mentions the risk of problems still large and treasure heavily in the damage caused by the bug. Nevertheless, according to the BBC currently no known cases in which hackers have made abuse of the leak.
,, According to Google, while it is possible for hackers, but also very difficult to exploit the bug, '' Van Voorst says. ,, And the update fixes a lot. ''
Source: http://www.ad.nl/Leon van Wijk Photo: Wikipedia / Thinkstock.
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