Security on mobile phones: should we worry?

Juniper, an enterprise security solutions, seems to have set fire to the powder. They broadcast a report that indicated an increase of malicious files on Android 472% since July . They also finger on the problem of validation applications in the Android Market and the lack of control of Google.


However, they are not alone in talking about Android virus, other security vendors have recently reported on this. McAfee, in its latest quarterly report shows a rising threat by 37% the previous quarter. This summer, the editor of Lookout Security Antivirus for Android released the results of a study saying that the number of malware has been multiplied by 5 in one semester.



In all cases, the editors recommend to beware the source applications and permissions granted to these apps. They also offer to install their security solutions for mobile.

So far, nothing unusual. However, most observers will notice that only a few hundreds or thousands of mobile malware are identified against several millions for computers.

"They play on fear to try to sell you security software"

The stir came from Chris DiBona, in charge of open source software at Google. + On Google , he filed a ticket "rant" by accusing publishers to outbid the sole purpose of selling their solutions Security: "Yes, antivirus companies play on fear to try to sell you security software for Android, RIM and IOS. They are charlatans and crooks. If you work for a company that sells antivirus protection Android, RIM or IOS, you should be ashamed of yourself. "

He does not defend Android but also talks about free software, noting that the three major operating systems for mobile devices (Android, iOS / iPhone and RIM / Blackberry) use all three part of open source . And when it comes to software, there is necessarily a security risk recalls it.

He also wants to mix it avoids the security problems with viruses on smartphones such as "worms" that we know on the computer. If it is possible that this infection spreads, it is unlikely due to system design for mobile. A virus that infects a device does not transmit to another "magic" he said.

The increased number of infections is worrying

In terms of security experts we defend with numbers. Computerworld.com relays feedback from experts who explain that the current trend is disturbing: "Today's malware on Android are one of the biggest problems in the field of mobile malware, "said Denis Maslennikov Kaspersky.



Same story at Trend Micro's Rik Ferguson who expressed: "The most important is not the total number of malicious software, but the rate of increase from one quarter to another or from one year the other. This shows the active interest and argued that criminals are currently mobile platforms "

The antivirus bonus

Experts, however, confirm that the infections on mobile are quite different from those used for computers. Moreover, the dangers are not limited to malware but also potentially misleading as phishing .

Security solutions are also used to protect the unit in case of theft, backup, parental controls ... "They get a bonus in the virus," said Mikko Hypponen of F-Secure.

Finally, the expert at Kaspersky stressed the effort that Google should be on the validation of applications in the Android Market to prevent malware can not be downloaded from official sources and considered safe by the users.



The final word is up to Avast, which explains that rely on compliance with basic rules by users is not enough. To avoid being infected with the recommendations proposed are usually doubly suspicious when installing an application that has not been downloaded many times