Android malware will reach 1 million pieces in 2013, if predictions from Trend Micro's annual security report are correct. The Japanese security firm announced that in 2012 it detected 350,000 different malicious and high-risk Android malware samples, a significant increase from the 1,000 apps detected in 2011. The company also said it expects to discover 650,000 new malware during 2013.
The Windows malware market took 14 years to reach, while Android has done so in just three years. Trend Micro says the same type of threats they have seen in the early days of 2013 include aggressive adware that sells users' data, as well as services that send SMS messages and skyrocket monthly fees. In 2012, around 605 Android malware families were detected, and this is expected to increase in 2013.
Most malicious Android apps are disguised as popular apps, tricking unsuspecting users. Trend Micro found versions of popular apps like Bad Piggies, Angry Birds Space, and Instagram, among others.
Interestingly – and quite rightly – Trend Micro includes aggressive ad networks as part of its malware count, since any app that collects user data without notification or pushes ads through notifications is classified as adware. They say the “aggressive appearance of the ads is reminiscent of Windows adware, which has plagued desktops and laptops and harassed users with pop-up messages,” Neowin reports.
For 2013, Trend Micro predicts a number of new forms of malicious attacks on Android, which include:
- New delivery methods including the misuse of social networking apps and account synchronization
- Via QR code
- Combined mobile/desktop attacks targeting online banking transactions
- More rootkits to avoid malware detection
The company advises Android users who want to protect their devices from attacks and are looking for security methods to be careful about which apps they install on their phone and, possibly, to start using security apps.
