G DATA security experts discovered a new malware strain every 7 seconds in the second quarter.Cyber criminals are attacking Android users with increasing force.
After a slight drop in new malware samples in 2017, the first half of 2018 saw a continuation of the rapidly increasing figures for the previous year. G DATA researchers discovered a new Android malware app every 7 seconds in the second quarter of 2018.
Over 76 percent of smartphones sold worldwide have an Android operating system installed (Source: Statcounter).
Why are malware figures rising?
Current analyses by G DATA experts show that cyber criminals are paying particular attention to the key area of gaming in the mobile sector, and malware figures are increasing rapidly as a result. Game developers are increasingly porting popular PC and console games to smartphones and tablets. On the other hand, attackers are turning to new, creative approaches, as the G DATA analysis of an Android worm in June suggests.
Audsters are currently exploiting the hype over the video game Fortnite, for example. As of now it is available for PCs, Macs, consoles, and iOS. Android users eagerly await the publication of a version for their platform. This makes life easy for fraudsters, who are trying to encourage users to install supposed Fortnite apps via videos and instructions. Yet instead of getting the game they wanted, users sign up to expensive subscriptions or infect their device with malware. Experts at G DATA published an article in June entitled “Gamers beware –fake Fortnite app for Android in circulation.” Hence gamers should not fall for the promises in videos, as these are pushed up the rankings not as a result of the accuracy of the search results but by the number of search queries.
As a result of an improper factory setting, numerous smartphones by multiple manufacturers have been sold ex works with an open debugging interface. Third parties can use this loophole to access the smartphone as an administrator with full root rights. This means that cyber criminals can access sensitive data or install malware apps. G DATA experts reported on their findings in a detailed article and explained to users how this hole can be closed even without an Android update.
About GDATA
G DATA Software AG, with its head office in Bochum, is an innovative and quickly expanding software house focusing on antivirus security solutions. As a specialist in Internet security and pioneer in the field of virus protection, the company, founded in Bochum in 1985, developed the first antivirus program more than 20 years ago and celebrated its 25th birthday in 2010. Consequently G DATA is amongst the eldest security software companies in the world.
Over more than five years, no other European security software provider has won national and international tests and awards more frequently than G DATA. When it comes to quality, G DATA is a world leader, combining the world’s best security technologies in its antivirus products. Examples of this are its DoubleScan technology, with two independent virus scanners, and OutbreakShield instant protection. G DATA security solutions are available worldwide in more than 90 countries.
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