Approximately 1/3 of Android found in "third-party" app stores (i.e. other than the official Google Play) contain some type of malware, according to research by cybersecurity company Opswat.
The list seems to be dominated by "monkey" versions of popular apps like Twitter and Angry Birds, as well as many "funny" "disposable" apps.
The company downloaded about 12,000 app files from sources other than Google Play and fed them into its Metascan system, which identified 32 percent as suspicious. Metascan works by using a variety of “libraries.” Many of the files were flagged because they were listed as adware — which, the company says, many people don’t consider “real malware.”.
“Regardless of how you define suspicious files, you should be vigilant and scan app files before installing them. Since there is always a degree of risk when downloading an app from an App store or website, it is important to take the right protective measures to secure your Android device. Scanning with multiple anti-malware engines increases the likelihood of detecting a malicious Android app before you install it on your device,” the company emphasizes.
Source: secnews.gr
