Android Malware Infographic Shows Massive Growth, Details Threats

Security research firm Trend Micro this week published some interesting new statistics on Android malware along with an infographic that nicely sums up its findings.

The most notable stats are that Trend Micro detected twice as much malware this month than it did last month; detected malware is up 100 percent from 10,000 to 20,000. Trend Micro also listed seven different types of detected malware: premium service abusers; adware; data stealers; malicious downloaders; rooters; click fraudsters; and spying tools. And the researchers noted that roughly 20 percent of Android owners used an antivirus or security apps, despite the obvious Android security threat, and they suggested that his number is sure to grow in the coming weeks and months. (Trend Micro offers a handful of free Android security apps, including its Mobile Security Personal Edition and WF [Worry Free] Mobile Security apps.)

Last year, I predicted that a deluge of malware and other security threats would hit Android in 2012, and that prediction appears to have been accurate. Android users should use some sort of mobile security app at this point, since many decent apps are available for free, and most of the good ones from reputable sources don’t put too much strain on device resources. (I’m currently using McAfee’s Mobile Security app.)

Check out Trend Micro’s infographic below for more details on its latest findings. (Click the infographic to enlarge it.)

AS

via Trend Micro’s Malware Blog