Mobile Malware Targets Android Phones: new Kaspersky Lab report

Mobile Malware Targets Android Phones: new Kaspersky Lab report
by Janeth Kent Date: 23-05-2013 android malware security

Are you a loyal Android fan as we are?

Yes?

Therefore, we have to accepted that malware targeting mobile devices is rapidly growing in both the number of variants found in the wild and in their complexity and sophistication, but the platform being actively targeted is Google's Android, which researchers now say is resembling Windows on thedesktop PC.

Android, the world's most popular smartphone operating system (as Mashable said ), has malware attacks issues.

We knew that already. But a new report suggests these issues are only destined to worsen: according to a new report released by Kaspersky Lab , the 99.9% of new mobile malware detected in the first quarter of 2013 are created to hit Android phones.

Most of them are trojans, types of malware used in many instances and SMS trojans, which steal money by sending unauthorized texts to premium rate numbers.

According to the report, the Top 20 most commonly used malicious or potentially unwanted programs for Android are:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

    Rank       Name             % of all attacks  
 1        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakeInst.a  29,45%  
 2        Trojan.AndroidOS.Plangton.a      18,78%  
 3        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Opfake.a    12,23%  
 4        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Opfake.bo    11,49%  
 5        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Agent.a      3,43%  
 6        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Agent.u      2,54%  
 7        RiskTool.AndroidOS.AveaSMS.a      1,79%  
 8        Monitor.AndroidOS.Walien.a        1,60%  
 9        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakeInst.ei          1,24%  
 10        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Agent.aq    1,10%  
 11        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Agent.ay    1,08%  
 12        Trojan.AndroidOS.Fakerun.a        0,78%  
 13        Monitor.AndroidOS.Trackplus.a    0,75%  
 14        Adware.AndroidOS.Copycat.a        0,69%  
 15        Trojan-Downloader.AndroidOS.Fav.a        0,66%  
 16        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakeInst.ee          0,55%  
 17        HackTool.AndroidOS.Penetho.a      0,54%  
 18        RiskTool.AndroidOS.SMSreg.b      0,52%  
 19        Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Agent.aa    0,48%  
 20        HackTool.AndroidOS.FaceNiff.a    0,43%  

 

First place goes to Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakeInst.a (29.45%). This threat targets primarily Russian speaking Internet users attempting to download software for Android devices from dubious sites. Often, cybercriminals use these websites to spread malware under the guise of useful software.

(18.78%), an adware Trojan ranked second. This threat is seen primarily in European countries, where it is used by the developers of free software to monetize products by displaying ads.

Third and fourth place both went to SMS Trojans from the Opfake family: Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Opfake.a (12.23%) and Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.Opfake.bo (11.49%). The first modifications of the Opfake family of threats were disguised as the latest version of Opera, a popular mobile browser. Today, the malicious programs in this family are disguised as new versions of other popular apps (Skype, Angry Birds, etc.).

Wondering where all the malware lives? The top three host countries include the United States (25%), Russia (19%), and the Netherlands (14%).

Do you use antivirus software on your Android phone?

If so, which one?

Which android App offers best Malware protection? 

 

 
by Janeth Kent Date: 23-05-2013 android malware security hits : 6493  
 
Janeth Kent

Janeth Kent

Licenciada en Bellas Artes y programadora por pasión. Cuando tengo un rato retoco fotos, edito vídeos y diseño cosas. El resto del tiempo escribo en MA-NO WEB DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT.

 
 
 

Related Posts

Android Hidden Codes: unveiling custom dialer codes and their functionality

In the world of Android smartphones, there exist numerous hidden codes that can unlock a treasure trove of functionalities and features. These codes, known as custom dialer codes, provide access…

Advanced Android tutorial: discover all your phone's secrets

It is highly probable that you are not taking advantage of even half of the potential that your Android device has to offer. These small pocket computers, which we call…

How to set up your Android phone: learn how to get your new phone up and running

If you've just bought a great new Android phone, you'll want to start using it as soon as possible. You'll see that it's not hard to get the initial set-up and…

Parental controls on Android: how to make mobiles and tablets child-friendly

Despite all the good things about them, mobile devices can expose your children to content that they're better off not seeing. The good news is that your Android phone or…

Read comics online: best websites and apps to download and read digital comics

Comic book lovers (like us), today we're going to give you a special tribute: a small collection of websites and applications to download and read digital comics, both on your…

Google everywhere: anatomy of a massive giant

The alarm clock is going off. A hand floats over the bedside table groping for the source of the sound: probably a cell phone and maybe one of the more than…

The BleedingTooth vulnerability and other Bluetooth security risks

Have you ever heard of BleedingTooth? And we do not mean the really disturbing looking mushroom which goes by this name and is totally real (we double checked) but one of…

The best tricks and features to master your Android Smart TV

We bring you a collection of the best tricks to squeeze Android TV, the Google operating system designed for televisions. You can find it on smart televisions of some brands,…

What's the Difference between Google TV and Android TV?

At the end of September, Google launched the renewal of its classic dongle. The new Google Chromecast didn't arrive alone, but added two very important innovations compared to the devices…

How to prevent your neighbor from hacking your Chromecast

Google Chromecast was born as a device to add Smart TV features to those that were not yet Smart TV, and with WiFi connectivity as one of the key features…

How to share your location using Plus codes on Google Maps for Android

Do you know what plus codes or plus codes on Google Maps are and what they are for? We tell you how they work and how to get them from anywhere. You…

How to run Android apps in Windows 10

Forget about having to constantly pick up your phone to see notifications or answer messages, Your Phone in Windows 10 is what you need and here we tell you how…