virtual environment Archives

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Drawing out the abilities of elementary school students! Reservations are now being accepted for “City Planning with Micra! -Summer Free Research 2025 with 1,000 Elementary School Students” Reservations are now being accepted!

The event "Town Building with Minecraft! ~Summer Project 2025 with 1,000 Elementary School Students~" will take place from July 19, 2025, to August 17, 2025, at e-Stadium Izumi and Izumisano Ochi Arena. It is aimed at elementary school students and will be guided by YouTuber Kiokio (@kiokio_coc). Reservations opened on June 27, 2025, on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is organized by KUL Corporation and co-organized by e-Stadium Co., Ltd. Activities at Izumisano Ochi Arena will occur on August 2 and 3, 2025.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

‘Godfather’ Malware Is Now Hijacking Banking Apps on Android

The latest version of the "Godfather" malware targets Android devices, capable of hijacking legitimate banking applications and complicating detection. Initially detected in 2021, it used screen overlay attacks to trick users into entering sensitive information. The new iteration introduces a virtualization capability, creating a virtual environment on the device that allows it to intercept and manipulate user interactions with banking apps. This malware can harvest account credentials and exert remote control over the device, enabling unauthorized transactions. Currently, it affects nearly 500 applications, primarily targeting banks in Turkey, with potential for global spread. Users are advised to download apps only from trusted sources, modify permission settings, enable Google Play Protect, keep devices updated, and audit installed applications to protect against this threat.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Microsoft boosts default security of Windows 365 Cloud PCs

Microsoft is enhancing its Windows 365 Cloud PCs with new security features starting in May 2025. All newly provisioned and reprovisioned Cloud PCs using a Windows 11 gallery image will have Virtualization-Based Security (VBS), Credential Guard, and Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) enabled by default. VBS creates a secure environment to protect system processes, Credential Guard secures authentication credentials, and HVCI ensures only verified code runs at the kernel level. Additionally, beginning in the latter half of 2025, clipboard, drive, USB, and printer redirections will be disabled by default on newly provisioned and reprovisioned Cloud PCs to mitigate security risks, although IT administrators can re-enable these features if needed.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

GodFather Android Malware Uses On-Device Virtualization to Hijack Legitimate Banking Apps

Zimperium zLabs has identified a new version of the GodFather Android banking malware that uses on-device virtualization to infiltrate legitimate banking and cryptocurrency applications. This malware creates an isolated virtual environment on the victim's device, allowing attackers to observe and manipulate user interactions in real time. It employs a malicious host application with a virtualization framework that downloads and executes a copy of the targeted app, capturing credentials and sensitive information. GodFather targets nearly 500 applications globally, particularly focusing on Turkish financial institutions. It utilizes evasive tactics, including ZIP manipulation and obfuscation, to evade detection and installs its payload through a session-based dropper technique. The malware retains traditional overlay attacks and has extensive remote control capabilities, posing a significant threat to mobile security and user trust.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Godfather Android malware takes over banking apps

A new version of the Android malware Godfather creates isolated virtual environments on mobile devices to steal account details and transactions from banking apps. It targets over 500 banking, cryptocurrency, and e-commerce applications globally, utilizing a fully virtual file system, virtual process IDs, intent spoofing, and a component called StubActivity. Godfather manifests as an APK app with a virtualization framework, scanning for targeted applications and encapsulating them within its virtual environment. It intercepts permissions for accessibility services, redirecting them to a StubActivity that launches the virtual version of the banking app, allowing it to capture sensitive information. The malware can record account details, passwords, and PIN codes using Xposed for API hooking. It employs a fake lock screen overlay to trick users into entering their credentials and can manipulate user interfaces and execute transactions within the legitimate banking app. Godfather first emerged in March 2021 and has evolved significantly since then, with the latest iteration demonstrating advancements from previous versions.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Godfather Android malware now uses virtualization to hijack banking apps

A new iteration of the Android malware "Godfather" has emerged, utilizing advanced techniques to create isolated virtual environments on mobile devices for stealthy account data theft and transaction manipulation from legitimate banking applications. It targets over 500 banking, cryptocurrency, and e-commerce applications globally, employing a comprehensive virtual filesystem, virtual Process ID, intent spoofing, and a component called StubActivity. Godfather is delivered as an APK app with an embedded virtualization framework, scanning for installed target applications and launching them within its virtual environment. It intercepts user interactions with genuine banking apps, capturing sensitive data like credentials and PINs while presenting a legitimate interface. The malware can execute commands to unlock devices and initiate transactions while avoiding detection. Godfather first appeared in March 2021 and has evolved significantly since then, with the latest version representing a notable advancement over previous iterations. Users are advised to download apps only from trusted sources and remain cautious about app permissions to protect against this malware.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

Three ways to run Windows apps on a Linux box

If you're transitioning to Linux and need to run Windows applications, you have several options, including dual-booting, using a virtual machine (VM), or employing a compatibility layer like WINE. For virtualization, VirtualBox is a popular open-source choice, while VMware is another option that has been free since late 2024. Both require a Windows ISO, which can be obtained for free from Microsoft. VirtualBox suggests allocating 2GB of RAM and one processor core, but 8GB of RAM and two cores are recommended for better performance. Running a VM requires significant resources, and a valid Windows license is necessary for the guest OS. Dual-booting allows both Windows and Linux to run natively, providing full hardware access and optimal performance. WINE translates Windows application calls into Linux commands and is included in most Linux distributions. Its effectiveness varies by application. Bottles is a user-friendly wrapper around WINE that simplifies installation. For enhanced compatibility, CodeWeavers CrossOver is a premium alternative to WINE, with a free evaluation version available. For gaming, Lutris and Valve’s Proton are tools that facilitate running Windows games on Linux.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

5 ways to use the Linux terminal on your Android phone

Android 15 includes a fully functional Linux terminal, allowing users to execute familiar commands, though running GUI applications can be challenging. With Android 16, the terminal receives more space. Users can connect to remote machines via SSH by configuring the SSH config file for easier access. The terminal serves as a platform for learning the Linux command line, executing commands, and accessing manuals. Developers can use it for coding, with Python pre-installed, and can create applications directly on their devices. The terminal also supports the installation of the MariaDB database server for database management. Additionally, users can create hidden files for storing sensitive notes using the Nano editor.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

How to keep using Windows 10 in a virtual machine after support ends

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users can run Windows 10 in a virtual machine (VM) to continue using it safely. The tool Disk2Vhd can convert a physical Windows 10 installation into a virtual hard drive (VHD or VHDX) for use in virtualization software like VirtualBox or Hyper-V. To use Disk2Vhd, download and extract it, launch the appropriate executable, select partitions for conversion, and choose between VHD and VHDX formats based on the virtualization software. After conversion, transfer the VHD file to the target computer and set up a new VM, integrating the backup file instead of creating a new virtual hard drive. Users can also reinstall Windows 10 in a VM using an installation medium and the Media Creation Tool to download the ISO file. When creating a VM, allocate at least 4GB of virtual memory and install necessary programs and guest extensions afterward. Creating a backup point after installation is recommended for stability.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

4 reasons you should embrace virtual machines instead of jumping straight to dual-booting

Operating multiple systems on a single machine, particularly Windows and Linux, can be achieved through dual-booting or using a virtual machine (VM). Dual-booting can lead to complications, such as Windows obstructing access to Linux and overwriting Linux's boot manager. In contrast, VMs allow users to run multiple operating systems concurrently without rebooting, making them more flexible and user-friendly. VMs facilitate the management of separate environments for different tasks and can be easily deleted and recreated if needed. They also provide enhanced security by operating in a sandboxed environment, reducing the risk of damage to the primary system. VMs are portable, encapsulated in a single file for easy transfer between computers, and support snapshots for quick rollbacks.