| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the presence of malware on a Chinese Android smartphone has not been specifically mentioned to have happened again within the same organization or with its products and services.
(b) The article does mention that Android devices, in general, have been targeted by malware, with Android accounting for 97% of the malware targeted at mobile devices last year. This indicates that similar incidents of malware attacks on Android devices have occurred across multiple organizations or with their products and services [27461]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in the article can be attributed to the design phase. The Chinese Android smartphone, Star N9500, was found to contain a virus known as "Uupay.D" that pretends to be the Google Play Store but actually steals user data. This malware comes pre-installed on the smartphone and cannot be removed by the user, indicating a design flaw in the manufacturing process [27461].
(b) The software failure incident can also be linked to the operation phase. The malware on the smartphone is capable of stealing personal data, tracking the location of the smartphone, intercepting and recording phone calls, making purchases, and sending premium text messages without the user's permission. These actions are a result of the operation of the malicious software on the device, impacting the users' privacy and security [27461]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident of the Chinese Android smartphone containing the Uupay.D virus is a result of contributing factors that originate from within the system itself. The malware was pre-installed on the smartphone during the manufacturing process and could not be removed by the user [27461]. The malicious software disguised as the Google Play Store had full access to the smartphone, stealing personal data and enabling various unauthorized activities without the user's knowledge [27461].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident could also be attributed to contributing factors that originate from outside the system. The malware sent the stolen data to an anonymous server located in China, indicating an external source benefiting from the stolen personal information [27461]. Additionally, the low price of the smartphone was considered a criminal tactic to entice users, suggesting an external influence on the pricing strategy to attract buyers [27461]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the article is primarily due to non-human actions. The Star N9500 Android smartphone was found to contain a virus known as "Uupay.D" that pretends to be the Google Play Store and steals user data. This virus comes pre-installed on the smartphone and cannot be removed by the user. It is capable of stealing personal data, installing additional applications or viruses, tracking the location of the smartphone, intercepting phone calls, making purchases, sending premium text messages, and potentially breaking into online banking or other secure services [27461].
The introduction of this malware onto the devices raises questions about whether the manufacturers deliberately planted the malware or if something went wrong during the production process that allowed the malware to be included on the smartphones. The low price of the smartphone with a wide range of features is seen as a criminal tactic to entice users, with criminals likely making money from the sale of stolen personal data [27461]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article reports that a Chinese Android smartphone, the Star N9500, was found to contain a virus that steals user data. This virus, known as "Uupay.D", comes pre-installed on the smartphone and cannot be removed by the user [27461].
- It is mentioned that the device is manufactured in China but sold online through resellers based in Belfast and Hong Kong. The article raises the question of whether the manufacturers deliberately planted malware on the devices or if something went wrong on their production line, allowing the malware to be introduced [27461].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The malware, disguised as the Google Play Store, steals personal data from the phone and sends it to an anonymous server located in China. It is also capable of installing additional applications or viruses without the user's knowledge [27461].
- The article highlights that Android accounted for 97% of the malware targeted at mobile devices, with the majority of malware being downloaded from third-party app stores, indicating a software-related vulnerability in the Android ecosystem [27461]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The objective of the software failure incident was malicious. The incident involved a Chinese Android smartphone, the Star N9500, being found to contain a virus known as "Uupay.D" that pretends to be the Google Play Store but actually steals user data. This virus comes pre-installed on the smartphone and cannot be removed by the user. It is capable of stealing personal data, tracking the location of the smartphone, intercepting phone calls, making purchases, sending premium text messages, and potentially breaking into online banking or other secure services. The malware was designed to give online criminals full access to the smartphone, indicating a malicious intent to harm users and exploit their data [27461].
(b) The incident does not involve a non-malicious objective. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, unknown |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor decisions is evident in the case of the Chinese Android smartphone containing the Uupay.D virus. The malware was deliberately disguised as the Google Play Store and pre-installed on the smartphone, allowing online criminals to steal user data, track the location of the device, intercept phone calls, make purchases, send premium text messages, and potentially break into online banking or secure services. This deliberate act of planting malware on the devices to steal personal data reflects a poor decision made by the manufacturers or those involved in the production process [27461].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental decisions is not explicitly mentioned in the articles. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the case of the Chinese Android smartphone, Star N9500, which was found to contain a virus that pretends to be the Google Play Store and steals user data. The Trojan, known as "Uupay.D", comes pre-installed on the smartphone and cannot be removed by the user. This indicates a lack of professional competence in ensuring the security and integrity of the device's software [27461].
(b) The accidental aspect of the software failure incident is highlighted in the uncertainty surrounding how the malware was introduced into the manufacturing process of the Chinese smartphone. There is speculation whether the manufacturers deliberately planted the malware or if something went wrong on their production line, allowing the malware to be included unintentionally. This ambiguity suggests that the introduction of the malware may have been accidental rather than intentional [27461]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
The software failure incident described in the article is more of a permanent nature. The Trojan virus, known as "Uupay.D", comes pre-installed on the Chinese Android smartphone and cannot be removed by the user [27461]. This indicates that the malware is deeply embedded in the device and persists over time, making it a permanent issue. Additionally, the malware enables online criminals to have full access to the smartphone, allowing them to steal personal data, track the location of the device, intercept phone calls, make purchases, and send premium text messages without the user's permission [27461]. These capabilities suggest a long-lasting and persistent impact on the affected devices, classifying the software failure incident as permanent. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a crash. The Trojan virus, known as "Uupay.D", which comes pre-installed on the Chinese Android smartphone, causes the system to lose its state and not perform its intended functions. It steals user data, tracks the location of the smartphone, intercepts phone calls, makes purchases, sends premium text messages, and potentially breaks into online banking or other secure services without the user's permission [Article 27461].
(b) omission: The software failure incident can also be categorized as an omission. The Trojan virus omits to perform the intended functions of protecting user data and privacy. Instead, it steals personal data from the phone and sends it to an anonymous server located in China, without the user's knowledge or consent [Article 27461].
(c) timing: The software failure incident does not align with a timing failure. The malware does not perform its intended functions too late or too early; rather, it operates continuously in the background without the user's awareness [Article 27461].
(d) value: The software failure incident aligns with a value failure. The Trojan virus performs its intended functions incorrectly by stealing user data, tracking the location of the smartphone, intercepting phone calls, making purchases, sending premium text messages, and potentially breaking into online banking or other secure services without the user's permission [Article 27461].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not align with a byzantine failure. The behavior of the Trojan virus is consistent in its malicious intent to steal user data and perform unauthorized actions on the smartphone without the user's knowledge [Article 27461].
(f) other: The software failure incident does not exhibit any other specific behavior beyond the categories of crash, omission, timing, value, or byzantine. |