AfterDawn: Tech news

Malware on Android jumps 472 percent

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Nov 2011 10:45 User comments (11)

Malware on Android jumps 472 percent The Android smartphone OS has become a hotbed of malware, says Juniper Networks.
Since July, malware apps have increased 472 percent and that number is expected to continue growing.

Notes Juniper (via Fire):

The majority of malicious applications target communications, location, or other personal identifying information. Of the known Android malware samples, 55 percent, acts in one way or another as spyware. The other major type of attack, which make up 44%, are SMS Trojans, which send SMS messages to premium rate numbers owned by the attacker in the background of a legitimate application, without the person's knowledge. Once these messages are sent, the money is not recoverable, and the owners of these premium rate numbers are generally anonymous.




Unlike the iOS App Store, which has a review process and tight screening, the open nature of the Android Marketplace allows for widespread malware to be uploaded.

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11 user comments

120.11.2011 23:26

Quote:
Unlike the iOS App Store, which has a review process and tight screening, the open nature of the Android Marketplace allows for widespread malware to be uploaded.
That is the cost of freedom, so be it.

221.11.2011 02:03

I do hope something can be done to help minimize malware but if the only option is what iOS app store has done then I will be glad to live with the malware.

No one said freedom was free.

321.11.2011 04:44
jim66688
Unverified new user

So...you would rather have apps with malware that could potentially steal any information in your phone such as contacts, bank info etc then have clean apps? weird

421.11.2011 05:49
TrevorT
Unverified new user

If you only download known apps, from confirmed links and read without just clicking yes, yes, yes, then you minimalism the risk anyhow.

I'd rather have the hassle of due diligence rather than not have control over my device and software.

521.11.2011 07:02

Originally posted by jim66688:
So...you would rather have apps with malware that could potentially steal any information in your phone such as contacts, bank info etc then have clean apps? weird
The apps can't do that anyway; I block the internet permissions to prevent advertisements.

But even if I didn't, I could just wait for apps to get a few weeks old. If they are viral they get pulled...much better solution than having the best free apps blocked simply because they are better than paid apps.

621.11.2011 07:21

Disco record sales were up 400% for the year ending 1976. If this trend continues, eeehhhhh!

721.11.2011 16:05

I've just joined the Android world. What do you veteran users do to help catch / detect / prevent malware? I know that there are antivirus apps for Android. Should I install one? I always read the permissions that an app needs when installing. I'm guessing that may not be enough.

821.11.2011 16:08

Originally posted by aw2600:
I've just joined the Android world. What do you veteran users do to help catch / detect / prevent malware? I know that there are antivirus apps for Android. Should I install one? I always read the permissions that an app needs when installing. I'm guessing that may not be enough.
Just run Lookout (free app in the Market) and don't install apps from random sites. Also, don't click on links in text messages you get from people you dont know. You should be 100 percent fine.

921.11.2011 16:30

Originally posted by DVDBack23:
Originally posted by aw2600:
I've just joined the Android world. What do you veteran users do to help catch / detect / prevent malware? I know that there are antivirus apps for Android. Should I install one? I always read the permissions that an app needs when installing. I'm guessing that may not be enough.
Just run Lookout (free app in the Market) and don't install apps from random sites. Also, don't click on links in text messages you get from people you dont know. You should be 100 percent fine.
Thanks DVDBack23. I noticed quite a few security apps but didn't know which one(s) to use. Lookout installed and reports all clean. All apps have been grabbed from the market so far. ...and I'd never click a link from someone I don't know.

1021.11.2011 22:55

If you are rooted, you can use droidwall to block internet access. There are also apps to change app permissions, but they don't work on all phones.

1125.11.2011 09:22

No surprise!

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