Malware on Android increases 472% in just four months

A report from Juniper Global Threat Center has juicy information on those cool, “open” Android devices. It turns out having a smartphone with an open platform such as Android isn’t as beneficial as you may have first thought. From 2009 to 2010, malware on Android increased 400 percent, and that’s not even the worst news.

Since July 2011, Android malware has increased 472 percent. The 400 percent mark, which previously took a full year to get to, has been quickly and easily passed in just four months. That’s a whole lot of bad news for Android device owners, and this is only the beginning.

What can you do to avoid malware? You can download an anti-virus app from the Android Market; but this solution often gets pricey. Sprint and McAfee teamed up earlier this year to provide virus protection on Android phones, but it will run you a monthly fee, as will Norton’s Mobile Security. There are some free options, but they often fail to get the job done.

As an Apple fanboy, you might imagine that I’m rolling around in this. Well, I am. The ongoing closed vs. open battle between iOS and Android users just completed another round and iOS claims victory. Because of Apple’s approval process in the App Store, iPhone users don’t have to worry about any malicious apps or paying for anti-virus on their smartphone. The controlled environment ensures that we are worry-free. Android does not have an approval process in place, therefore any app — safe or not — can sneak right into the Market.

[via Juniper Global Threat Center]

About The Author

George Tinari

George has followed technology news for quite some time, but he only started writing about it a few years ago. He's a self-proclaimed Apple fanboy, but that doesn't stop him from covering a wide range of topics in the mobile area. When he's not reporting for IntoMobile, you can usually find George listening to a wide array of music, trying to be funny and sarcastic, eating, or voicing his opinions about all things tech on his personal blog, GT Daily.

Ecko099

The approval process doesn’t mean you’re in the clear with an iPhone George. Do your homework. There have been plenty of vulnerabilities uncovered on the iPhone and a number of them made their way on to the App Store.
Kurt

How are you a published writer? What the hell does 472% even mean? What is it relative to? You have no source data. Go look at your source, the report which your article links has NO data to establish ANY number. They could be just making stuff up to sell their software. Go back to college.
ReddiOT

You didn’t even read the article you cited, did you?
Daniel Perez

What part of the article are you implying George didn’t read?
Daniel Perez

True, but these vulnerabilities often occur in jailbroken iPhones. And the apps that do make their way to the App Store, as few as they are, often get taken down within a day or two.
Daniel Perez

I’m not really good at math, but even I understand what this article means. If there was one virus on a computer, and then there were 4.72 viruses in four months, then I could say there’s been an increase of viruses on my computer by 472%.

The source said they did the research themselves. They’ve regularly submitted reports on Android malware, and yet this is the time their research is put into question?

Just because George is a self-proclaimed Apple fanboy, doesn’t mean his writing should be put into question. As long as Android users are safe with what they download, then you won’t have anything to worry about. No reason to get all bent out of shape over this report.
http://www.gtdaily.net/?source=disqus George Tinari

Indeed, there are occasionally malicious apps in the App Store should one slip through Apple’s tight grip, but as Daniel pointed out they are often removed once Apple identifies them. In fact, Apple recently banned a developer for sliding an app in that revealed a vulnerability, and that poor guy was only trying to help fix it.
Nickolus442034

yeah, okay…im sorry you were dumb enough to download reptilian porn, but for the rest of us we prefer not to be coddled and hand-held through our OS experience. anything apple is for people who know nothing of programming or simple operating system controls. if the users did realize these possibilities they would never buy one.
Nickolus442034

you mean 5.72 viruses, lol.
Nickolus442034

apple is terrible, how can you even back it up?
Donald B.

I like the article and the reporting, but I do have a problem with the 472% number. Like it was said earlier, going from 1 to 5 would get you the 472%. My first thought is the original publisher of this info is an android opponent … and rather than give small numbers, they inflated their story with percentages.