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Success always comes at a cost, and for Google's immensely popular open source Android platform, success has attracted the attention of malware writers. In fact, Android is again the most targeted mobile platform on the planet by malware authors, and during a time when mobile malware growth is at an all-time high, according to McAfee's Third-Quarter Threats Report for 2011.
This is the second quarter in a row Android has been the most popular platform for mobile malware, and it became the exclusive platform for all new mobile malware in Q3, McAfee says. Symbian, which is home to the greatest number of malware, appears to no longer be on the bad guys' radar.
In terms of types of mobile malware, malicious authors continue to favor premium-rate SMS-sending Trojans that sign up victims to subscription services. Maliciously modified apps are also popular, and so is a new method that involves recording phone calls.
"Two examples are Android/NickiSpy.A and Android/GoldenEagle.A, both of which record user conversations and forward them to the attacker," McAfee explains. "Attackers can’t be sure that the first one or two calls have the information they seek, so these malware remain on the devices for extended periods without being detected; that’s a very persistent threat indeed!"
Mobile malware as a whole is on target to exceed last year's and become the busiest year ever. In the grand scheme of things, the numbers are comparatively small with what's floating around on the desktop, but they're also steadily climbing. McAfee noted around 600 mobile malware samples in the first quarter of 2009, a number that has now risen to more than twice as much with some 1,300 samples.
You can read the full report here (PDF).
Comments are closed on this article
Wingzero_x
November 21, 2011 at 10:09am
Hmm no mention of Apple or iOS. Could it be that their system of "the walled garden" approach is actually the safest and best way to go? And sure you can argue that that restricts what you can do on your device, but seriously what can you do on Android that can not be done in iOS?
Wingzero_x
November 22, 2011 at 8:32am
Oh you mean custom ROMs that may or may not work? ROMs that could ultimately render your device as useful as a rock? ROMs that could be stocked full of questionable software? Ummm yeah, glad my iOS devices can't do that.
Caboose
November 22, 2011 at 9:07am
You do also realize, that it's the most popular and widespread platforms that are attacked, don't you?
And these ROMs that you are referring to, how many of those specifically exist? The ROMs to use are the ones that have had extensive testing on a multitude of devices, with a large group of people supporting it. Not some fly-by-night operation.
Caboose
November 21, 2011 at 8:52am
This is what happens, when a platform becomes very popular. No surprise really, but it's to be expected!
Zoandar
November 24, 2011 at 9:39am
Yep. The difference is that the blindly false state of security experienced by some other popular OS platforms keeps them from seeing the malware already existent in their own OS. With freedom comes the knowledge there is evil in the world.
