Android Malware
Mobile devices have a history of being almost untouched when it comes to malware. But it looks like the industry is changing. More and more people are finding themselves using smartphones to replace conventional computers, and this poses a huge problem for hackers. There has been a steady decline in computer usage over the past year or so, and hackers are turning their malware creation towards smartphones as a whole.
It was around the middle of last year that things started to get worse for Android users. There seemed to be an increasing outbreak of malware on smartphones, especially Android. It may have been the true “openness” of the Android software, or the sheer number of people venturing out and purchasing Google’s mobile platform. But it seems that hackers have surely taken a liking to creating malware for Android.
Over the last year, malware has risen 400 percent. That’s 4 times the amount of malware now than 12 months ago. With this rise in malware, has come an increase in anti-virus programs released for smartphones. Programs like Lookout, Webroot, and AVG have all released applications to scan and prevent malware from attacking your phone or tablet.
Juniper Networks, a company who is set up to look over security of the Department of Defense, has released a report recently about the nature of Android and it’s malware problem. They claim that the biggest source of viruses comes from the Android Market itself. It seems that Google’s love for keeping applications easy to accept and the openness of the whole operating system have allowed for more and more malware to attach itself to a smartphone.
This may seem scary to most of you, but keep in mind, there are applications that can help prevent the spread of malware and its effect on your phone and tablet.