Malware on Android increased 400 per cent

PanARMENIAN.Net - A new report has highlighted the increase of malware on Android, stating its prominence on the mobile platform has risen by 400 per cent since the summer of 2010.

The report on mobile security, which was carried out by Juniper Networks, found the Android Market was the biggest distribution point for malware on smartphones, knowyourmobile.com reported.

Though perhaps not surprising for an app market that has seen 1 billion application installs in two months - in fact, given such a massive number the figure could be a lot worse - the news is undoubtedly unnerving for consumers and businesses.

Jeff Wilson, Principal Analyst of Security at Infonetics Research, explains the reason for the increase. “The last 18 months have produced a non-stop barrage of newsworthy threat events and while most had been aimed at traditional desktop computers, hackers are now setting their sights on mobile devices. Operating system consolidation and the massive and growing installed base of powerful mobile devices is tempting profit-motivated hackers to target these devices.”

It doesn't help only six per cent of Android users have any form of anti-virus software, according to Juniper Network's report.