“The problem with fragmentation – 98.4% in Androids case – is that there are over a billion devices running at least five earlier versions that are all vulnerable to malware, data theft, and other major security vulnerabilities. Google does not update these – the manufacturer has to. Google’s recent response [is] ‘We will not fix issues in Jelly Bean 4.3.1 and prior,'” Ray Shaw reports for iTWire. “What that means is unless you have a recent KitKat 4.4 device or Lollipop you are screwed – the only way to get a little more secure is to buy a new device.”
“One major corporate user has banned Android devices on its network. ‘We simply cannot cope with managing the plethora of Android devices and apps on our network. We are happy to support iOS 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x – and apps from their stores but that is it!'” Shaw reports. “The comment on iTunes and Windows Store is interesting – both test all apps before listing and changes are monitored and retested. Google Play has found and removed malware from apps on its store but the issue is that there are thousands of alternative Android app stores that do not take the responsibility.”
“Google could use the carrot and stick approach with device makers – either they update the OS or they don’t get it!” Shaw reports. “But as Android is merely a thinly disguised vector for delivering advertising revenue to Google it probably won’t do that either.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If the explosions don’t kill you, the infections will.
Android. “Open” in all the wrong ways.
[Attribution: BGR. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Bill” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Kaspersky Lab Director: Over 98% of mobile malware targets Android because it’s much, much easier to exploit than iOS – January 15, 2015
Security experts: Malware spreading to millions on Android phones – November 21, 2014
There’s practically no iOS malware, thanks to Apple’s smart control over app distribution – June 13, 2014
F-Secure: Android accounted for 99% of new mobile malware in Q1 2014 – April 30, 2014
Google’s Sundar Pichai: Android not designed to be safe; if I wrote malware, I’d target Android, too – February 27, 2014
Cisco: Android the target of 99 percent of world’s mobile malware – January 17, 2014
U.S. DHS, FBI warn of malware threats to Android mobile devices – August 27, 2013
Android app malware rates skyrocket 40 percent in last quarter – August 7, 2013
First malware found in wild that exploits Android app signing flaw – July 25, 2013
Mobile Threats Report: Android accounts for 92% of all mobile malware – June 26, 2013
Latest self-replicating Android Trojan looks and acts just like Windows malware – June 7, 2013
99.9% of new mobile malware targets Android phones – May 30, 2013
Mobile malware exploding, but only for Android – May 14, 2013
Mobile malware: Android is a bad apple – April 15, 2013
F-Secure: Android accounted for 96% of all mobile malware in Q4 2012 – March 7, 2013
New malware attacks Android phones, Windows PCs to eavesdrop, steal data; iPhone, Mac users unaffected – February 4, 2013