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Android malware leaps by 76%

By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 23 Aug 2011 at 10:39

New threats against Android phones leapt by 76% in the last quarter, according to security firm McAfee.

The company's quarterly threat report claimed that Android was now the fastest-growing vector for mobile malware as the popularity of handsets running Google's mobile OS makes them more attractive to attackers.

"This quarter the count of new Android-specific malware moved to number one, with J2ME (Java Micro Edition), coming in second while suffering only a third as much malware," the company said in its quarterly threat report.

Mobile threats already take advantage of exploits, employ botnet functionality, and even use rootkit features for stealth and permanence

"This increase in threats to such a popular platform should make us evaluate our behaviour on mobile devices."

According to the company, the mobile-malware threats were growing so quickly because the writers are leaning on tried and tested methods previously used on PCs.

"As we watch steady, significant growth in the mobile-malware threat landscape, many of the same functions and features of PC-based threats are already part of the codebase," McAfee said.

"Mobile threats already take advantage of exploits, employ botnet functionality, and even use rootkit features for stealth and permanence," it said.

"The platform could become an increasing target for cybercriminals, affecting everything from calendar apps and comedy apps to SMS messages and fake Angry Birds updates."

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User comments

I wonder if McAfee makes an anti-virus product specifically for Android devices..?

Why, oh yes, they do.

By TheHonestTruth on 23 Aug 2011

Scare tactics....

I remember a similar statement from a security vendor back in the days of Windows Mobile.....turned out to be rubbish back then too.

By everton2004 on 23 Aug 2011

Scare tactics are Sales tactics...

They said the same about Apple's systems too.

There are always vested interests involved in pushing these malware stories (perhaps even having a hand in its development), whether about Apple, Android, or whatever. We've got so used to Window's historical baggage of ever-present malware we are all ready to accept everything else works like Windows: it doesn't, but people are ready to believe anything if there is a precedent.

By SwissMac on 23 Aug 2011

@SwissMac

What a surprise, you brought Microsoft into a story that has nothing to do with them.

Of course you're the person that does not accept there is malware for Apple, even though Apple issue security updates to combat it. Your comments always exhibit why Apple designed an "OS that a 2 year old can work out".

By chapelgarth on 23 Aug 2011

Not to mention Apple. Come on SwissMac - step it up, you're being dull.

By Aspicus on 23 Aug 2011

Oh dear, the deniers of reality return

For all you doubters out there, do your research. Here is a precis of an extract from the report:

Malware on Android is growing rapidly enough that it's now by far the most targeted platform, McAfee said in a new study (below). The number of viruses, trojans, and other rogue pieces of code aimed at Google's platform shot up 76 percent this past spring to reach 44. While small compared to Windows, it was three times the volume of the one-time leader, Java ME, which was at 14.

Some of the examples of Android malware, such as Smsmecap and Toplank, are masquerading as legitimate apps. Many of them are badged as "crimeware" that tries to profit off the user by sending premium rate text messages and effectively stealing the target's money. On other platforms, like the BlackBerry and Symbian, paid SMS attacks have also appeared in smaller volumes.

Apple, meanwhile, remained unaffected, with no active malware that could attack a stock iPhone.

Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/23/mcaf
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By SwissMac on 24 Aug 2011

TheHonestTruth, you're a cynical, cynical man. ;-)

By Lacrobat on 24 Aug 2011

I'm thinking about moving to Android from the iPhone but the thought of having to install anti-virus software for the first time on a smartphone puts me off. I have enough with Windows and it's constant updates and patches..

By Dieter on 25 Aug 2011

Aren't iOS & Android both based on Linux and equally vulnerable (aside from the apps themselves which Apple vet and Google dont)?

By dubiou on 1 Sep 2011

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