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CIA TideCheck App Used to Spread Android Malware

Posted: July 14, 2017 to News.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Compliance

The CIA created an app called TideCheck that is a secret vehicle for HighRise malware; malware was designed to seize SMS on Android smartphones, according to a report recently released by Wikileaks. The good news is that this version, dated from back in late 2013, only works on Android versions 4.0-4.3. It must also be either physically downloaded onto the device in order to work, or the device owner must open the app and use the correct password (“inshallah” - Arabic for “God willing”) and then choose to “initialize” The bad news is that this is the older version and it is likely that the capabilities have been streamlined and improved. In addition to intercepting the text messages, it also allows the hacker (in this case, the CIA) to send text messages by proxy from the infected phone, and It is likely that this malware-cum-app is still being used by the intelligence agency. HighRise is just one of many “Vault 7” tools reported by WikiLeaks over the last few months, and it is likely to not be the last.

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Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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