Trend Micro has warned that the threat from viruses on smartphones will increase in 2013. According to the firm, malware targeting Android increased nearly six-fold in Q3 (July to September), up from around 30,000 “malicious” and potentially “dangerous” applications to more than 175,000. The firm predicts that the next year viruses will be able to feed information from the likes of banking applications, putting customers at great financial risk. The establishment of a leading kind of banking malware tool will be witnessed and a leading kind of information theft toll, which will be commoditized and for sale on the underground market.
The volume of malicious and high-risk Android apps will hit 1 million in 2013. An “arms race” between Android attackers and security providers is likely to crop up in 2013.
Trend Micro currently offers security for Microsoft and Apple for PCs and Macs and is seeking opportunities within mobile. Other reseller partners include the Car phone Warehouse. Packages to help protect customers on PCs, mobiles and tablets cost from £34.97.
“Black Hole” exploit kits, currently is becoming a threat to computer security by collecting information on mobile operating systems.
Rajat Sahu, Product Marketing Manager – Consumer, India & SAARC, Trend Micro, said, “The challenge still lies around raising awareness, as mobile users are still unwilling to accept that there is a threat to their phones. The number of malicious and high-risk Android apps, expected to reach at least 350,000 by the end of 2012, will increase three-fold in 2013, broadly in line with the predicted growth of the OS itself.”
