Report: Over a Third of Android Apps are Infected with Malware

Ownership of an Android OS device has brought about some new consequences in knowing that about a third of available apps have malware.

In the race to be the ultimate smartphone and tablet operating system with over 400 million active users, the Android OS has taken a major blow in a new report released by security firm BT determining that about one-third of Android-based apps have malware. BT made these remarks during a NetEvents Americas conference where they set-out to find more information on malware findings on a moderator's very own Samsung Galaxy S III running Android.

BT points out that their research was primarily conducted through Google's Play Store. Android users downloading apps from other sources on the Internet would yield a much higher rate of malware infections. Google's Play Store is a much more controlled environment versus those of other third-party sources over the Internet where Android users may go to download apps. However, the threat of malware still exists in virtually any app source.

Figure 1. - New Mobile Malware Chart 2011 (image source: McAfee)

Android App malware, making up 63% of the total mobile operating system malware in 2011 as shown in Figure 1, remains to lead the way for new mobile malware attacks. Android is certainly the choice-target for creators of mobile malware.

Fake Android app markets tend to spread malware freely making other Android devices susceptible to malware. These fake markets could account for infecting millions of Android devices. At the time of the report, BT did not provide any specific Android apps that were found to have malware. The chart below in Figure 2 demonstrates the drastic spike in TrendLabs' Android malware samples found and their future predictions.

Figure 2. - TrendLabs' June 2012 Android Malware predictions (image source: TrendLabs)

Currently, not many details are known about the rings that circulate malware-laced Android Apps. Security firms such as BT plan to set out on a mission to lay out a better picture of the malware App industry as a direct indicator of the mobile security sector as a whole.

Mobile malware is still a forefront that has yet to be fully explored but we can be sure it will be prevalent on both the end of the malware creators and those of us who combat malware.