How to Avoid Android Stagefright MMS Virus

Have you heard about that report from cybersecurity firm Zimperium? Well, this report warns Android users that their phones can be infected with a picture message, allowing hackers to gain full control over a phone.

Stagefright is one of the most terrifying vulnerabilities that can hit and affect the Android ecosystem, but before you panic, be sure that here is something that you can do in order to avoid this Android MMS virus.

Things don’t sound at all promising at this point. All someone needs is your phone number in order to send you such a malicious MMS message that compromises your device.

Even worse, the person has the possibility to erase the message so you never know you’ve received it at one point, so don’t stay and wait to be attacked, but take action.
The best solution is to change the default messaging app in Android and here I am to guide you:

How to Avoid Android Stagefright MMS Virus (method 1):

1. For the start, open the Settings app on your phone;
2. After that, you must select More under Wireless & network;
3. At the end, just tap on Default SMS app;
4. Things are a little different if you own Samsung’s Galaxy S6, so use this detailed guide for that: Stop and remove Android Text Message Virus (Stagefright) on Galaxy S6;
5. You can also access this option through Hangouts, so first of all, you have to open the app;
6. Then, you must tap the three vertical lines icon at the top left of the screen to access the options;
7. It’s time to select Settings, SMS, SMS enabled;
8. If Hangouts is selected as the default messaging app, you can choose instead Messaging or Messages;
9. If there is no option other than Hangouts, you have to download one from Google Play;
10. You have to set it as the phone’s default messaging app within the app’s own settings menu;
11. Then, you will also see an option to select it within Settings, More, Default SMS app;
12. Even more, to be one hundred percent sure that your device is safe, you have to turn off MMS auto-retrieval.

How to Avoid Android Stagefright MMS Virus (method 2):

1. Start by opening Hangouts;
2. Tap the three vertical lines at the top left of the screen;
3. Then, you have to choose Settings, SMS;
4. Scroll down the page until you see the Advanced section;
5. Do you see the Auto retrieve MMS option? Flip it off.

The major disadvantage of this method is that you’ll get prompted to accept or reject MMS messages (images, video, or group texts), but I think that you can live with this small inconvenience as it can prevent your device from being attacked.