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'Virtually all' new mobile malware directed at Android

05 сентября 2012

The antivirus specialist said in its latest quarterly threat report that "virtually all new mobile malware detected in Q2 2012 was directed at the Android platform". McAfee said the malicious software took the form of SMS-sending malware, mobile botnets, spyware and Trojans.

The Google-made OS overtook Symbian in the second quarter last year, and has since consolidated its position. Symbian still ranks second, but is a long way behind Android (see chart).

"Attacks we've traditionally seen on PCs are now making their way to other devices," warned Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee labs. "For example, in Q2 we saw Flashback, which targeted Macintosh devices and techniques such as ransomware and drive-by downloads targeting mobile."

Ransomware is when a virus maker restricts access to certain data on a device in a bid to extort money from the victim in return for removing said restriction. For consumers this attack could result in lost personal files such as photographs. In the case of enterprises it can be encrypted data.

Meanwhile drive-by downloads occur when a user unwittingly downloads malware just by visiting a particular Website. Originally PC-based attacks, they have now made their way onto Android devices, where they are disguised as OS updates in order to dupe unsuspecting users into installing the virus on their phone or tablet.

"This report highlights the need for protection on all devices that may be used to access the Internet," said Weafer.

Overall, McAfee recorded the biggest quarterly increase in malware samples in the last four years, with 1.5 million detected since the first quarter. The malware discovery rate accelerated to almost 100,000 per day.

The company's virus database, which it colloquially refers to as the 'zoo', is on track to pass the 100 million samples milestone this year.

Источник: Total Telecom

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