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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsReport: Android malware up 3,325% in 2011
During 2011 there was an unprecedented growth of mobile malware attacks, with Android up a stratospheric 3.325 percent, according to a report by the Juniper Networks Mobile Threat Center.
The report makes depressing reading. Across all platforms, mobile malware attacks are up 155 percent, with mobile malware samples increasing from 11,138 in 2010 to 28,472 in 2011. BlackBerry malware grew by 8 percent, and Java ME saw a 49 percent increase. But the platform hit hardest was Android, with malware increasing by an incredible 3,325 percent in a year. During the last six months of 2011, Android malware samples had increased from 400 to 13,302.
Spyware was the most popular Android malware, accounting for 63 percent, while 36 percent were premium rate SMS Trojans. Another 30 percent could obtain location information without user consent and 14.7 percent had the ability to make calls behind the users back.
The report also notes that malware is becoming more sophisticated, with malware like Droid KungFu using encrypted payloads to avoid detection and Droid Dream disguising itself as a legitimate app.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/report-android-malware-up-3325-in-2011/18449
All Things Google Are The Fertile Grounds of Hacking and Tracking.
Google 2012 = Microsoft 1990s.
targetpractice
(4,919 posts)How's that "open" platform working out?
msongs
(67,441 posts)malware get on your phone, by downloading crap just as if you were at home on a pc? ignorant here, not having an internet connected phone yet, but thinking bout getting one for business reasons.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)Yes, it has a "market" where applications can be downloaded to the phone.
For example - I have a cool one called "key card" that allows me to scan in all of those annoying loyalty cards you keep in a wallet (or on a keychain) for discounts. The stores scan their data off my phone rather than the card. It was recommended to me, and is a cool tool, but for all I know, it could be sending all of my contacts and passwords to the Ukraine or something. Meh.
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)Imma download that.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Apple doesn't let the carriers and Google load it with crapware.
musiclawyer
(2,335 posts)I we dont need another flame war here.
But you got to think this is one of the reasons, Iphones are selling so well (and even macs over PCs)
I think the future will be
1. apple for people who dont care about customization and just want their software to work and not get infected, regardless of limits imposed by apple
2. the smaller group that hates control and loves code and tinkering
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)never any issue with malware. the reason i've never had an issue is because i don't install apps unless i need them and know they are legit. some people will just troll the market installing every free app available.
randome
(34,845 posts)So throwing a number out there doesn't really tell much. I mean, 3000 percent of a miniscule number looks more frightening in print than the reality.
And there is no system that is immune to malware. Not one. The Internet, by its very nature, will always be 'leaky'. You can't have a foolproof system that keeps only 'bad' people out and yet be open to the world.
It's impossible.
This sounds like fear-mongering to me.
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)iPhones sweep list of 2011's best-selling smartphones in U.S.
Apple's current iPhone models were the three best-selling smartphones in America in 2011, with the iPhone 4 beating out the legacy iPhone 3GS and new iPhone 4S to become the biggest seller of the year.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/02/23/iphones_sweep_list_of_2011s_best_selling_smartphones_in_us.html