Malware On Mobile Grew 163% In 2012, Infecting Around 32.8M Android Devices, Report Says
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Mobile service provider NQ Mobile today released a study of malware covering 2012, using data gathered from the company’s Security Labs. It found that malware threats in general on mobile platforms grew 163 percent in 2012, totally more than 65,000 identified distinct forms of app repackaging, malicious URLs and SMS phishing (also known as smishing). The attacks were mostly geared towards Android devices, which was the platform of choice for almost 95 percent of threats identified by NQ.
Trends indicate we’ll only see more attacks, and more creative ones, according to NQ. In February, security researchers identified a new type of malware that uses an Android device as a launch platform for infecting a target computer via USB connection, the company said. That remains limited to only a few identified infected handsets, but it’s a troubling attack vector that could pose plenty of problems down the road if it becomes more sophisticated. In a release, NQ Mobile co-CEO Omar Khans said that what’s needed is a system that can detect threats in advance of infection and prevent them, something which so far hasn’t really been widely available.
Mobile malware infections are likely to continue to rise as it takes over popularity from PCs as a way for users to connect, and there’s little that can be done about that save ensuring that users take the same precautions on mobile that they would on those platforms. The problem may be more complicated on mobile operating systems, however, due to fragmentation, which NQ says contributes to weaker security for users running older versions of Android like Gingerbread. App sideloading and a user population that’s skewing younger every year is also contributing to a rise in potential security risks, the company says.