Stagefright is a newly discovered vulnerability on Android devices running older and the latest Android version. Know the methods to test an Android smartphone or tablet and how to prevent attacks.

A new threat known as "Stagefright" can penetrate many Android devices even the ones running the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. According to Zimperium Mobile Security, this new vulnerability affects devices running Android versions from Android 2.2 Froyo up to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Hackers using Stagefright will only need a user's mobile number then proceed to attack without additional user interaction, and the worst part is, the MMS can self-delete itself before the user can do anything about it. Zimperium's report unveiled that 95 percent of Android devices, or more than 900 million models, across the globe are susceptible to Stagefright vulnerability.

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Sony Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Plus or Z4 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact users are all to receive a patch to be released within August 2015 to address the vulnerability announced by Google at Black Hat 2015. A separate patch fix will also be released for other Sony Xperia smartphones and tablets.

Stagefright is a media library and part of Android Open Source Project which processes several popular media formats. Hackers exploited the media library and needs a mobile number to initiate an attack, appearing as an MMS notification on an Android device. Once a user opens the link from that MMS, a malicious code will be left on the device and hackers can take control of it.

Hackers can access messages, retrieve essential data such as login details, operate the device's microphone and even hack into almost any file stored on the internal or external storages. Any traces of the attack will be removed without the owner realizing what happened.

Zimperium created a simple application downloadable at the Google Play Store called Stagefright Detector. It will test if the device is vulnerable to Stagefright and recommends if it is required to be updated. Users can protect Android devices from this exploitation by simply going to the Messaging application and turning off the Auto Retrieve or Auto Download option at the Multimedia Messages settings. If the device uses another Messaging app such as Hangouts, owners will also need to turn the option off to ensure security.

TagsSony Xperia Z2, Sony Xperia Z3, Sony Xperia Z4, sony xperia z3 plus, sony xperia z3 tablet compact, stagefright fix, stagefright, blackhat 2015, Stagefright Detector