Intel has decided to remove the Remote Keyboard for Android after security researchers discovered vulnerabilities that put users' devices at risk.
The app, which according to the Google Play Store is “designed for Intel NUC and Compute Stick devices running Windows 8.1 or Windows 10” and allows “remote control of your mouse and keyboard via your smartphone or tablet,” is no longer available for download.
This is a fairly popular application among Intel customers, with more than 500,000 installations.
However, the vulnerabilities identified are quite critical as they allow an attacker to enter keystrokes as a legitimate user on the victim's device, if they are connected to the same network. Another flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code as a legitimate user, allowing them to install additional malware and then gain access to the device.
However, it seems that Intel did not want to spend time addressing the vulnerabilities and decided to completely abandon the application with the aim of greater user protection.
Of course, if we consider that the application was last updated in June 2017, the appearance of vulnerabilities should not surprise us much.
In other news, Intel's troubles don't seem to be over as it continues to battle the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities even now, four months after they emerged. In fact, in a recent statement, it confirmed that the Spectre Variant 2 vulnerability cannot be patched on some processors.
