McAfee: Android malware up 76%

[runawayprisoner]

Seems like Android doesn't have to capture 80% of the market to capture developers' attention. Malware developers, that is.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/23/mcafee.shows.android.facing.huge.spike.in.malware/

I think there are more "stop" signs showing for Android than there are green lights, but... who knows? Moral of the story is to be careful what you install on the phone, especially if your phone stores sensitive information or... is used instead of your credit card (NFC).

As an aside, iOS is perfectly clean from the same study, so I guess no such worry there.

 

[YoungGun21]

Seems like Android doesn't have to capture 80% of the market to capture developers' attention. Malware developers, that is.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/23/mcafee.shows.android.facing.huge.spike.in.malware/

I think there are more "stop" signs showing for Android than there are green lights, but... who knows? Moral of the story is to be careful what you install on the phone, especially if your phone stores sensitive information or... is used instead of your credit card (NFC).

As an aside, iOS is perfectly clean from the same study, so I guess no such worry there.

Yes, that was certainly just an aside. Not the main point at all.

It jumped up 76%, oh my goodness. That is a large jump. So Malware must be completely widespread and a serious problem right? I mean...76% is huge, so the number of infections must be outrageous. According to the article it's a whole...44...

Well that is certainly underwhelming.

 

[dguy6789]

I don't think it makes a bit of difference if it's up 76% or ten thousand percent. Any OS that allows the user to install anything they want that has a huge user base will be targeted by malware. Users should always use discretion when installing software onto their computer, smartphones are no exception.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Seems like Android doesn't have to capture 80% of the market to capture developers' attention. Malware developers, that is.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/23/mcafee.shows.android.facing.huge.spike.in.malware/

I think there are more "stop" signs showing for Android than there are green lights, but... who knows? Moral of the story is to be careful what you install on the phone, especially if your phone stores sensitive information or... is used instead of your credit card (NFC).

As an aside, iOS is perfectly clean from the same study, so I guess no such worry there.

In other news, Windows machines are still usable despite all the big bad malware out there.

Stop being a fanboi troll for a second and use some rational thought. Yeah, Android has the capability of getting malware. So does a PC. So does a Mac. So do many things. The only reason iOS doesn't have it is because you can't load your own shit on it unless you jailbreak it. So, just like the Mac vs PC world it comes down to the question of do you want to be protected from being an idiot through tight controls/lockdowns of stuff so it's not as easy to get malware or would you rather have an open arena where you have to take a role in keeping yourself free from malware but can do whatever you want?

Also, this is coming from a security firm who (if they have any intelligence) is going to attempt to create a new market for themselves by hyping up anything that will drive people to want to buy protection from them.

 

[Oyeve]

Its McAfee, they put most of the malware out there in the first place. I just spent 2 hours getting rid of their preloaded shit off a laptop that was being hosed by it.

 

[Skel]

I don't think it makes a bit of difference if it's up 76% or ten thousand percent. Any OS that allows the user to install anything they want that has a huge user base will be targeted by malware. Users should always use discretion when installing software onto their computer, smartphones are no exception.

This is the point of something like this.. to warn people that malware exists and to be more careful when installing stuff.. of course around here people have got to turn it into a pissing match over who's phone better...
always funny to me that the same guys that bash religion will all but go to war over a phone OS

 

[YoungGun21]

If the malware instances on iOS went from 2 to 4 do you think I would post that Apple's malware "increased 100% overnight" expecting to do anything more than troll and start another one of these threads (like you are doing)?

 

[Oyeve]

MCa-Mac, hmmmm

 

[dguy6789]

This is the point of something like this.. to warn people that malware exists and to be more careful when installing stuff.. of course around here people have got to turn it into a pissing match over who's phone better...
always funny to me that the same guys that bash religion will all but go to war over a phone OS

The point of the article is debatable. It seemed pretty clear that the intent is to make Android seem less attractive and I was pointed out that it is a baseless thing to suggest. I don't bash religion, I bash stupidity.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

So Apples security scheme is still in force? Security through Obscurity?
With Android taking off and Apple loosing cases trying to ban Android devices, Apple and it's fans are scared of Android.
Don't worry Apple. Android will soon be the top dog and after awhile something else will come along and take over. That's just how things work. You can't be on top forever.

 

[gsaldivar]

Users should always use discretion when installing software onto their computer, smartphones are no exception.

:thumbsup:

 

[Red Storm]

McAfee = McMalware. As usual, common sense and thinking twice about suspect sites/downloads/apps is the best form of malware protection you will ever have. It's obvious to anyone with half a brain that the more open OS is going to be targeted more often. Maybe it's a problem for Average Joe who doesn't really know what a smartphone is, but you don't find those people here at AT, so it's not a problem for any of us.

 

[gsaldivar]

"The number of [malware] ... shot up 76 percent this past spring to reach 44."

Wow, that takes a bit of steam out of the headline, doesn't it...?

 

[akugami]

I don't think it makes a bit of difference if it's up 76% or ten thousand percent. Any OS that allows the user to install anything they want that has a huge user base will be targeted by malware. Users should always use discretion when installing software onto their computer, smartphones are no exception.

The problem is that there doesn't seem to be any testing done even on Google's own app store. I really think in the long run, having tighter regulations for inclusion in Google's own app store will help Android. You may still install apps from 3rd party app stores. That should not change but a more heavy handed approach would make it safer for users and have at least one repository of apps that is as trustworthy as it can get.

Even with tighter regulations and inspecting every app you can't be 100% sure someone hasn't slipped something in. Apple does inspect all apps and even with the iTunes store there have been a few cases of developers slipping "extra" features that went unnoticed by Apple such as tethering.

As for the McAffee announcement...it's another antivirus company claiming the sky is falling. Nothing new.

So Apples security scheme is still in force? Security through Obscurity?
With Android taking off and Apple loosing cases trying to ban Android devices, Apple and it's fans are scared of Android.
Don't worry Apple. Android will soon be the top dog and after awhile something else will come along and take over. That's just how things work. You can't be on top forever.

I see some things never change. Apple bashing for instance.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Wow, that takes a bit of steam out of the headline, doesn't it...?

Nope. Branch off variants of 44 and you'll see how many there can be.

 

[YoungGun21]

Nope. Branch off variants of 44 and you'll see how many there can be.

There were 44. Sure, there could be more. But...there were 44.

How many are on Windows? It is always good to compare right? A number by itself means nothing.

How about over a million new ones made in the first half of 2010.

 

[runawayprisoner]

There were 44. Sure, there could be more. But...there were 44.

How many are on Windows? It is always good to compare right? A number by itself means nothing.

How about over a million new ones made in the first half of 2010.

It's not the same situation since on Windows, you get a lot of antivirus software and firewalls, and scanners... and Microsoft probably releases a patch every other day or so. I'd know because I just received notification of a security patch yesterday.

But how often do you receive a firmware update on Android?

 

[YoungGun21]

I wouldn't know. I'm rooted and don't get regular firmware updates.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I wouldn't know. I'm rooted and don't get regular firmware updates.

Unroot and you'd most likely find yourself at the same firmware as before. Unless your phone has a "Nexus" in its name.

 

[shortylickens]

So a company that makes money off fixing security problems is trying to tell me I'm full of security problems?

:hmm:

 

[akugami]

So a company that makes money off fixing security problems is trying to tell me I'm full of security problems?

:hmm:

The same folks who blasted MS for locking third parties out of the OS kernel breaking their crappy antivirus programs.

 

[Mopetar]

I'd care more if it weren't a press release from a company interested in selling virus/malware prevention software. It's a little be like a soft drink company talking about a scientific study that showed cola drinkers have a lower rate of cancer.