Are Android Devices the Next Target of Malware?

Russian security firm and vendor Kaspersky Lab has once again come up with a report that states Android devices are in imminent danger from a malware identified as Zeus. The mobile operating system from search giant Google has attained enormous success over the last couple of years. This has led cyber rogues to target the hugely popular OS time and again. According to reports, malware targeting Android has increased three times in the second quarter of 2012.

Recent history of attacks on Android

Kaspersky Lab had detected as many as 5,441 malware apps in the first quarter of 2012. This time again, the security engineers has identified approximately 14,923 between April and June. What's more irksome is that the numbers are swelling up at an unprecedented rate. In the second quarter of 2011, the figures were only 936. The next quarter had 3,658 attacks that were detected by Kaspersky.

Majority of the malware detected in the second quarter of 2012 were ""multi-functional Trojans"". They were coded to secretly obtain data from smartphones like contacts, e-mail addresses as well as some specific downloads made from selected servers run by rogues.

The latest malware detection

The second report presented by Kaspersky states that SMS Trojans comprise almost 25% of the total threats in the second quarter of 2012. These malware are considered more dangerous than the multi-functional Trojans. They are capable of extracting money from customers' bank accounts by issuing SMSs to premium rate numbers without the knowledge of the customer.

The third report talks about more lethal malware that number up to 18% of the total malware threats detected by Kaspersky. These programs provide complete access to unauthorized people for fidgeting with an infected Android device. Needless to say, it could be one of the most dreaded attacks for any Android user.

The rest 2% of the malware threats detected are Trojan Spy programs. These are the most harmful variety of Trojan that has been detected as of now. These programs can intrude your devices to obtain the most confidential data like bank account numbers, credit/debit card details and PINs.

The recent attacks were detected relatively late because they were fragmented and hidden in small numbers within the affected apps. CNET states that only a minor portion of the program was able to escape detection. Previously, it has interacted with some of the modules located elsewhere on Google Play. When a device is infected, it starts sending SMSs, according to another industrial report.

In the recent past, couple of experts had demoed malware that could bypass detection with ease. They infected Android devices to a large extent. The number of attacks on Android is increasing on a daily basis. As per an industry research conducted recently, new malware targeting Android have numbered up to a mammoth 300 percent in the first half of 2012.

The reports presented by Kaspersky Lab are already being speculated and classified as more and less dangerous. However, it is obvious that Android's popularity is a contributor to the increased number of threats. Users are therefore advised to seek protection of their devices. You can learn more about Android's security from the various websites on the internet.