The Quick Heal Annual Windows and Mobile Malware Report, 2012, released by Quick Heal Technologies Pvt. Ltd, a leading player in India’s antivirus segment with about 35% market share, clearly reveals that India is under the grip of cyberattacks. The Quick Heal Research shows rapid increase of almost 90% in Windows malware and a mind-boggling increase of 170% in its modifications. The bad guys are also winning the war in the Mobile platform and have swarmed India. Virus attacks in the Mobile space have also started soaring at a rapid pace with 30% growth registered in 2012 and a phenomenal 80% increase in its modifications. The Mobile device malware has also reached a new stage of evolution, the Quick Heal Report said.
The findings from Quick Heal’s Annual Malware Report show that, though PC is still the prevalent target for malware authors today, there is an obvious peak in the growth of malware and their modifications on mobile devices, especially on the Android platform. As per the findings, there has been a persistent increase in the number of malware attacks, especially on the Google Android platform and Mobile applications have become the easiest way to compromise devices.
The top Android malware circulating in the Indian Mobile device threat scenario as received by Quick Heal R&D center are Android.BoxerSms, Android.GingerMaster, Android.Airpush (Adware), Android. Kungfu, Android. Leadbolt(Adware), Android.Kmin, Android.BaseBridge, Android.GoldDream, Android.Ksapp and Android.Plankton (Adware).
Commenting on the findings of the research, Sanjay Katkar, Technical Director & CTO, Quick Heal Technologies, said, “Windows is still the most attacked Operating System. 2012 saw numerous attacks that were devised for windows vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals have leveraged zero-day exploits even more effectively with new software patterns and business models. The web is still the most conventional way of targeting victims. It is pivotal that our efforts are driven to educate, inform and create awareness among the end-users because as people embrace newer platforms and devices there are more and more who end up at the wrong end of attacks”.
According to the key findings of Quick Heal Windows Malware Report, there has been a 90% growth in Windows malware in 2012 as compared to 2011 and malware attacks are more sophisticated and often combine exceptional technical dexterity. The Report said that the attacks are financially motivated and targeted at newer victims who land up on the wrong side of payment extractions.
