Mobile Malware – It’s Only a Matter of Time

Mobile Malware – It’s Only a Matter of Time. SMART phone growth has rocketed in the past 6 months and the phones running the Android operating system have seen the largest increase. Android is the fastest growing operating system in the world, with over 500,000 phones activated daily.

Smart phones are mini computers that are being used for the same functions as traditional PC’s or laptops, and many users are connecting to the internet, using internet banking and more. These devices are also vulnerable to hacking, malware and viruses.

Malware is software with a malicious purpose, and could be designed to disable your phone, remotely control your device or steal vulnerable information. Malware targeted at mobile devices uses the same techniques as PC malware to infect mobile devices.

Android have seen malware growth in the 6 months to January 2011 escalate by 400%, and 80 infected applications have already been removed from the official Android Market site by June 2011. In total, around 250,000 users have been infected so far, usually downloading infected applications online.

Android is not alone. Other mobile operating systems such as the iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry and Microsoft Windows mobile are all vulnerable from attacks and infection.

“ Poor password protection further puts the user at risk, with the most common passwords being ‘0000’ and ‘1234’ ”.

In early 2011 a hacker was found guilty of stealing data from more than 100,000 iPad users.

Methods used by criminals are:

·         ‘phishing’ (a fake version of a real site), where they will gather log-in information from the user;

·          ‘spyware’ that will silently collect information from the user and send it to eavesdroppers;

·          exploiting the mobile operating system for an attack;

·         infection using a ‘worm’ that will replicate itself throughout the network;

·         Wi-Fi snooping, where your actions will be ‘watched’ by others;

·         A direct attack using files, text messages and viruses.

We can reduce the risk by taking some simple steps to protect ourselves by:

• ·         Only downloading apps from legitimate and known applications
• ·         Ensure the operating system and applications are up to date
• ·         Don’t access internet banking or shopping sites over a public wi-fi network
• ·         Never leave your phone unattended in public places
• ·         Use a strong and complex password
• ·         Turn off Bluetooth and other connections when not in use
• ·         Use a personal firewall
• ·         Install a mobile security app