The details about the massive OpenSSL security flaw known as Heartbleed have been making the rounds through the web the past few days, and if you haven’t heard about what it is or what it does, the breakdown is that it affects a major security protocol known as OpenSSL which is used to encrypt web traffic. While all of this sounds alarming and in time affected websites will end up patching this bug, for now you can at least get a little piece of mind while browsing the web via your android devices. To do so all you’ll need to do is head over to the play Store and grab the app called Heartbleed Detector from Lookout Labs-the same developer who makes the popular virus scanner/security app for android devices-and let the app run its course.
It doesn’t do much but it also doesn’t cost anything, as Lookout wants to do users a solid and help them determine whether or not their web browsing habits are safe or not. The app helps you detect which OpenSSL you’re running and whether or not it’s been affected by the Heartbleed bug. The unfortunate downside is that the app only serves a purpose of notifying the user of whether or not the bug has affected your system, and does nothing to be able to give it a clean slate. That part of the battle is being taken on by Google, who is reportedly working as we speak to get rid of the bug by sending out updates which have patched the bug.
Basically, the app will just make you more aware of what’s going on and can help you to avoid excessive web usage if you’re worried about it. The app does however do one more thing than letting you know if your device is affected by Heartbleed or not, and that’s informing you of whether or not the vulnerable behavior is enabled. Updates are sure to start hitting carriers as soon as possible we imagine, and for those on wifi only tablets the updates will be coming straight from Google and the OEM. You know where to check for updates to the OS, so make sure to tap in there often and update as soon as you can.
The post Lookout’s Got Your Heart, Check For The Heartbleed Bug With Their Free App appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
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