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McAfee: Mobile malware up 700 percent since 2011, majority targets Android

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According to internet security firm McAfee, instances of mobile malware have increased by as much as 700 percent since 2011, and the majority of it targets Android devices. 85 percent of all malicious software targeting smartphones and tablets is coded to take advantage of security flaws in Google’s mobile OS and comes in all shapes and sizes, including everything form trojans disguised as legitimate apps and software updates to websites that automatically download dirty code to a device.

The main reason for Android’s vulnerability is the ability to install third party software directly, something Apple blocks from their iPhone and iPad line. For some time carrier partners attempted to block the feature from Android devices tied to their networks due to security concerns, but Android supporters have long fought to keep the platform as open as possible.

Still, while the majority of malware targets Android users, it’s rare to find an instance that does not require user approval to install. While the bad software may be cleverly disguised, double checking exactly what is being downloaded and launched on your device is still the best way to guarantee handset security.

[via VentureBeat]

Kevin Krause
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14 Comments

  1. O_O dang….

  2. haters gonna hate >.> , meanwhile Apple is getting hacked

  3. Just like any form of virus or malware, be smart with what you download or visit, and you won’t get a virus. (Not 100% of the time, of course.)

  4. Just download legit apps and there’s no problem. It only takes common sense and the restraint to not download that new “Big booty Asians XXX” app.

    1. Wait a minute… you mean, I … oh, crap.

  5. Nothing like throwing around scary-sounding statistics to sell a product. Kiss my a** McAfee & take your gloom & doom w/you elsewhere.

  6. Wow, if It’s coming from Mcafee you know it has to be true! /s

  7. you really do have to be a complete and utter failtard to DL one of these bobo ass apps that have all this malware crap.

  8. I have always wonders if McAfee, Symantec and the rest of the Antivirus companies were creating some of the virus’ to throw a scare into people to get their sales up… What do you think?

  9. McAfee should be ashamed of themselves. This type of crap needs to be addressed straight from Google. I can’t tell you how many times I have had people ask me about security when purchasing Android phones. My best answer to them – “If you somehow manage to get a virus on your phone, then you probably should not have been doing whatever it was that you did to find the virus.”

  10. Open Source what do you expect, but hey those with common sense would not have any issues. But I have to agree with some of the other comments there just trying to scare others to come over to Android. Trust me viruses can be installed on any others OS such as IOS or Web Os just as quickly, the main reason Android is targeted is cause it is growing faster than any other OS platform right now and will more than likely stay that way throughout. Just my 2 cents

  11. So now McAfee is calling users ‘security flaws’?

  12. common sense and dont download random apps = the best protection.

  13. Once Android become malware/virus prone that an app is needed to protect it, I’ll finally have a good enough reason to switch to Apple.

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