The Motive Security Labs report – which looked at all popular mobile device platforms – found that such malware infections in mobile devices increased 25% in 2014, compared to a 20% increase in 2013. Android™ devices have now caught up with Windows™ laptops, which had been the primary workhorse of cybercrime, with infection rates between Android and Windows devices split 50/50 in 2014. While less than 1% of infections come from iPhone® and Blackberry® smartphones, new vulnerabilities emerged last year to show they are not immune to malware threats.
Malware growth continues to be aided by the fact that a vast majority of mobile device owners do not take proper device security precautions. A recent Motive Security Labs survey found that 65% of subscribers instead expect their service provider to protect both their mobile and home devices. Motive’s malware report concluded that infection rates in residential networks also rose significantly in 2014, with malware found in 13.6% of residences, an increase of 5% over the previous year.
“With malware attacks on devices steadily rising with consumer ultra-broadband usage, the impact on customer experience becomes a primary concern for service providers,” said Patrick Tan, General Manager of Network Intelligence at Alcatel-Lucent. “As a result, we’re seeing more operators take a proactive approach to this problem by providing services that alert subscribers to malware on their devices along with self-help instructions for removing it.”
Other Motive Security Lab report highlights include:
The mobile infection rate in 2014 is 0.68%. Based on this Alcatel-Lucent estimates that worldwide, about 16 million mobile devices are infected by malware.
Mobile malware is increasing in sophistication with more robust command and control protocols
Mobile spyware, used to spy on a phone’s owner, is also on the increase. It tracks the phone’s location, monitors ingoing and outgoing calls, text messages, e-mail and tracks web browsing.
The overall monthly infection rate in residential fixed broadband networks is just under 14%. This is up substantially from the 9% seen in 2013. This is mostly attributable to an increase in infections by moderate threat level adware.
High-level threats such as ‘bots’, ‘rootkits’, and ‘banking trojans’ remain steady at around 5%.
via Alcatel-Lucent report on malware in 2014 sees rise in device and network attacks that place personal and workplace privacy at risk | Alcatel-Lucent.
BlackBerry is quick to roll out the first security update of the new year.Here we are three days in to the new year, and BlackBerry is already rolling out the January security update for Android powered BlackBerry devices.Owners of devices purchased through Shop BlackBerry should already have the update available. For the rest of us who purchased our devices through carriers, we will have to wait for our specific carriers to push the update to us.In a not from BlackBerry, “If your BlackBerry powered by Android smartphone does not have an up-to-date software build available, please contact your retailer or carrier directly for security maintenance release availability information.” I’d suggest to do this soon and do it often.Remind your carrier that the update is available and the only thing standing between that update and you is them. Remember, the world of mobile security is constantly moving, and having timely updates are integral to our device security.The latest update is dated January 5, 2017. To verify your version, head to Settings>About Phone. For information about the security fixes included in this update, click here.
