Hackers are always looking for new attack methods. This attack is called (Zero-Click) or it is also known as (Non-Interactive Attack) because it infects your phone without you doing anything. To get around this, Samsung introduced a new security tool called (Message Guard) in its latest Galaxy S23 phones.
But what are zero pressure attacks and how do they work? How does the new Samsung tool (Message Guard) protect your phone?
First, what is a zero click attack?
Traditional cyber and spyware attacks involve convincing a target to click a link (URL) or download a file containing malware that installs itself on a phone, tablet or computer, allowing the attacker to gain access to the device.
Therefore, no-click attacks target messaging or voice calling apps because they are designed to receive data from untrustworthy sources as hackers usually use data specifically designed for this type of attack, for example. B: Hidden messages or texts or images to provide a code. This could damage the device.
The non-clickable attack can affect the mobile phone, be it Android or iPhone. The most famous example of such an attack occurred in 2020, when a little-known vulnerability in the iMessage app was exploited to compromise the iPhones of dozens of journalists.
Previously, WhatsApp was hacked through voice calls in 2019 when a group of hackers used the WhatsApp application to remotely install it on users' phones, regardless of whether they were using Android or iOS, by asking via WhatsApp spy software that sent call messages to his phone. users. . The target, even if the target does not answer the call, the attack can still work, and the target may not realize that its device is loaded with spyware.
second; How does Message Guard protect your phone?
You can think of the tool (Message Guard) as an advanced proactive protection mode or as a standard quarantine as it automatically eliminates all potential threats hidden in the image files your phone receives before they can do any harm. Moreover, this tool works stealthily in the background and does not require activation, so Samsung protects you from attacks even with just one click without doing anything.
Once installed on your phone, this tool quarantines all images that access your phone and blocks them from accessing the phone's hardware, preventing malicious code embedded in it from accessing your phone's files or interacting with the operating system.
The tool (Message Guard) then scans the message containing the image file piece by piece, looking for traces of malicious code. If there is a problem, the tool handles it in an environment that you control to make sure the rest of your device isn't infected. Therefore, the image cannot trigger an embed code across any part of the phone, preventing no-click attacks.
The tool is currently available for Samsung Messages and Google Messages, and Samsung intends to release a security update later to protect your phone with third-party messaging apps.
3. Which mobile phones are compatible with Message Guard?
Samsung announced the tool as one of the solutions included in its latest Galaxy S23 series phones, including:
- Galaxy S23 phone.
- Galaxy S23 Plus.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Samsung also plans to launch it later this year in its Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets as long as it supports One UI version 5.1.