Kapersky has published one of its annual reports on software security on mobile operating systems. Talking about Android has reached 10 million malicious applications stalking the operating system since they started counting them. The figure is really worrying although we relativize it with the market share that this operating system has on both mobile phones and tablets.
80% of smartphones sold in the world in 2013 is Android. When it comes to tablets, we have a market share close to 70%. These two data explain to some extent why 98% of viruses created for mobile devices are destined for the Google operating system.
Kapersky has reviewed the evolution of malware in recent years. 2011 was the year when mobile malware started to gain traction, 2012 was the year malware diversified, especially on Android, and 2013 was the year malware matured.
The most common objective is to steal valuable user information such as bank details and contacts and profiles on internet services. The hit of the year could have been a Trojan that sends SMS with links to continue infecting and that started in Russia.
As is always argued, it also has to do with openness, that is, with the option to install third-party applications. In the Google Play Stores there are 1.103.104 applications as of January 30, 2014. Many of the malware packages come by parallel methods, such as unofficial stores that grow in number or incautious web browsing.
As always, they give us some recommendations so that we do not fall into these traps.
- Do not activate developer mode on our device
- Do not activate the option "Install applications from unknown sources"
- Install only apps from official channels
- When you install new applications, check what permissions we give them
- Use antivirus
The latter fell from its weight.
Source: Kapersky