Mobile malware grows by 614 percent in last year

[A Guy]

Mobile malware creators and smartphone makers seem to be in a neck-and-neck software race, but new data shows that the malware creators could be taking the lead.

Juniper Networks released its third annual Mobile Threat Report on Tuesday and the findings aren't pretty. Mobile malware grew at a rate of 614 percent from March 2012 to March 2013 -- that's equal to 276,259 malicious apps floating around out there. Last year, the increase was a mere 155 percent.

The report is based on an analysis of more than 1.85 million mobile apps and vulnerabilities across major mobile operating systems.

Source

A Guy

 

[Dallas 7]

If they receive enough beating from the bad guys, the tablet world may start losing some of it's perceived glitter.

 

[Infinite]

I'm glad I don't own an Android

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Was kind of expected. Android antivirus apps will eventually become the norm, like with PCs.

 

[M1GU31]

I'm assuming this only effects andriod phones and not iphones or am I wrong? Anyways from what I read in the article,it seems to be mainly andriod phones and ios devices such as iphones are harder to infect due to their specific apple app store being the only way to get apps mainly.

 

[A Guy]

I'm assuming this only effects andriod phones and not iphones or am I wrong? Anyways from what I read in the article,it seems to be mainly andriod phones and ios devices such as iphones are harder to infect due to their specific apple app store being the only way to get apps mainly.

"Theoretical exploits for iOS have been demonstrated, as well as methods for sneaking malicious applications onto the iOS App store. But cyber criminals have by and large avoided Apple's products in favor of the greener pastures offered by Google Android," Juniper's report reads. "This does not mean that iOS is more secure than Android."

Android is responsible for 92% of all known mobile malware

A Guy

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Android is responsible for 92% of all known mobile malware

Mainly because it is becoming the Windows of mobile ARM devices. While Apple is... well, returning to its corner.

 

[x BlueRobot]

If something is more popular than a another thing, then of course it's going to be targeted more; it's simple logic.

There's more malicious code written to run on Windows than for Linux or Apple, since Windows is by far the dominating operating system and the most popular.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Let's see if the "usual suspects" can somehow blame this on MS.

 

[Layback Bear]

Well from the users of phones and tablets that I see a big part of the problems is they don't even think of security or want to. They just want to poke and go and to hell with security.

 

[smarteyeball]

Was kind of expected. Android antivirus apps will eventually become the norm, like with PCs.

I've had an av installed on my Galaxy since I had it, more for a placebo affect than anything. However it finally found an app with some dodgy malware connection after that app had been updated.

The AV is not so much a placebo effect anymore.

But it's not that different from downloading 'any old app' for Windows. The same rules apply - use your brain and don't be a click monkey.

If I clicked on every pop up I saw, I'd expect to be infected, just as I would with Windows.

If something is more popular than a another thing, then of course it's going to be targeted more; it's simple logic.

Exactly.

And it's easier to get away with too. Android apps aren't held to the same level of scrutiny as iOS apps as we know.

More popular, laxer security - invitation for shenanigans.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

meh, did you look at the permits you must give to even the most basic free app? Some have practically full access to your SMS and mail data, and with internet access that's a BIG gaping hole in your privacy. Not to speak about the stupidity of linking a credit card to your google account. That's not inherently malicious code, as it has the "consent" of the user. being unrooted ("rooting" is gaining admin privileges on your device) does only protect the system folders of the device, but not the user.

Which is why I warmly recommend to root your device, install SuperUser (it's the UAC-prompt-like app that gives admin privileges to only some apps) get DroidWall (with superuser privileges) and negate internet access to just about anything that isn't system (or browsers) on both wifi and mobile internet.
Also does wonders in removing ads from free apps.