Mobile threats: Android most vulnerable
Kaspersky Lab in a recent statement said that mobile users were actively searching for software from suspicious sources and taking no precautions when launching an unknown programme - all of which makes it easier for cybercriminals to infect devices.
Kaspersky Lab's key mobile forecast for 2012 had said that cybercriminals indeed focused their attention on the highly popular Android platform, and the number of threats for it continued to grow at a rapid pace. In January 2012, the lab had less than 6,000 unique malware samples for Android in its database, but the year ended with an astounding figure of 43,000+ malicious programmes. Over 99% of new threats found in 2012 targeted Android-based smartphones and tablets, with less than 1% aimed at devices running Symbian and BlackBerry operating systems or supporting the mobile version of Java.
The statement said that the most widespread Android threats can be divided into three major groups: SMS trojans, stealing money by sending premium texts, adware, and exploits to gain root access that give full access to the device and any data stored on it. Another notable addition to the Android malware family was a new mobile botnet nicknamed Foncy that enabled cybercriminals to gain control of mobile devices.
Despite the limited number of new malicious apps for Symbian and BlackBerry smartphones, some of them are notable for specifically targeting victims' bank accounts, it said. In 2012 the lab's experts recorded new versions of trojans such as Zeus-in-the-Mobile and SpyEye-in-the-Mobile that combine forces with their 'desktop' malicious counterparts to seize control of users' online bank accounts.
Courtsy : techgig.com