Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > News > Tech News > More research points to explosion of Android mobile malware

More research points to explosion of Android mobile malware
Thread Tools
NewsPoster
MacNN Staff
Join Date: Jul 2012
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 26, 2013, 06:33 PM
 
Confirming an earlier study by a different firm, a new report has found that 92 percent of mobile attacks are aimed at Android, with the number of attacks generated per year on a steady increase. The Juniper Networks study calls the 614 percent increase in attacks since March 2012 "staggering," with three out of five coming out of China or Russia.

Trends noted in the study (PDF) are the prevalence and ease of attack on the Android OS, with attackers having "made strides to shorten the supply chain and find more agile methods to distribute their wares into the wild around the globe" according to the report. Almost three quarters of the attacks are SMS trojans, using mobile payment exploits to generate funds quickly from the attacked which show up as many as four weeks later on the owners' cell phone bill.

Also noted as aiding in the Android attacks is the Android OS's fragmentation, with the "vast majority" of devices ineligible to receive the latest in security patches by Google. The study found that many free apps were leaking corporate data, including location tracking, to developers as well.

The report is based on analysis of more than 1.85 million mobile applications and associated vulnerabilities, an increase of more than 133 percent. The total amount of malware sampled grew to 276,259 apps. Of growing concern are third-party alternatives to official marketplaces, allowing "side loading" of applications on Android that may not have been reviewed by Google or any other gatekeepers. While unofficial stores exist for "unauthorized" apps on iOS, they are far fewer in number and better policed by the community, at least so far.

The study parallels one from May by F-secure that found that 92 percent of mobile malware was on Android, with the rest going to the outdated Symbian. Issues cited were primarily the same, with the endemic approaching the relative level of compromised Windows systems.
( Last edited by NewsPoster; Jun 27, 2013 at 03:15 AM. )
     
Sebastien
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 27, 2013, 11:44 AM
 
Written by Apple's marketing departments this time, I'm sure.
     
Flying Meat
Senior User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SF
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 27, 2013, 11:51 AM
 
Are you referring to this article, or "The Juniper Networks study calls the 614 percent increase in attacks since March 2012 'staggering,'..."
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 27, 2013, 12:33 PM
 
Originally Posted by Sebastien View Post
Written by Apple's marketing departments this time, I'm sure.
The painfully obvious does not require rewriting by marketing departments.
     
Sebastien
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 27, 2013, 10:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
The painfully obvious does not require rewriting by marketing departments.
Especially when biased fanboy-filled sites do it for you for free.
     
Mike Wuerthele
Managing Editor
Join Date: Jul 2012
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 28, 2013, 12:31 AM
 
Sebastien, did you even read the source report?
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 28, 2013, 01:15 AM
 
Originally Posted by Sebastien View Post
Especially when biased fanboy-filled sites do it for you for free.
Reality has a pro-Apple bias.

I really hope you're getting paid for your shilling.
     
Sebastien
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 28, 2013, 11:27 AM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
I really hope you're getting paid for your shilling.
It's clear you are.
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 28, 2013, 07:54 PM
 
     
Sebastien
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 29, 2013, 09:27 AM
 
Yeah, nice comeback.
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 29, 2013, 10:11 AM
 
You actually felt entitled to one?

     
Sebastien
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 29, 2013, 10:47 AM
 
Once again, nice comeback.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:11 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,