By Yoon Ja-young
Openness has been the key strategy of Google to compete with Apple in the smartphone market. Coupled with global handset manufacturers like Samsung Electronics, Google has successfully increased the share of its Android operating system against Apple’s iOS, but it seems that its openness is not that different from negligence. The amount of malware is increasingly steep on Android-based smartphones as Google allows applications to be uploaded onto its market without any filtering.
AhnLab, a local antivirus software and security solutions provider, noted the steep increase of destructive software in Android-based smart devices. During the latter half of last year, it discovered seven malicious codes infecting Android-based smartphones, but the number shot up steeply to 110 in the first half of this year. The number surged to 107 in July alone, making the total for this year 224 and sounding the alarm even louder.
Most of the malware leaks private information, such as the user’s location or the information on the handsets, but some even incurs financial damage for users by making phone calls or sending messages with the phone through remote control. They also install malicious code by modulating normal applications.
Many of the malicious codes discovered last year were estimated to have been developed in Russia, but those suspected of being made in China are becoming more frequent.
“Unlike desktop computers, mobility and individualization are the main characteristics of smartphones. Hence, the users are likely to be exposed to private information leaking or financial loss,” said Lee Ho-woong, head of Security Center at AhnLab. “The users should refrain from immediately installing applications uploaded in the Android market. They had better wait and review the ratings of the applications, and install them only when they are determined to be safe. Third party markets should also be avoided,” Lee said.
AhnLab has been supplying “V3 Mobile for Android,” a smartphone security application to Galaxy smartphones of Samsung Electronics and smartphones of other manufacturers including LG Electronics, Motorola and Pantech.
Analysts have been warning that vulnerability to malignant software would threaten Android phone users. Lockout, a mobile security company, recently reported after examining 10 million Android devices and 700,000 applications for both Android phones and iPhones that one out of 20 Android devices was infected. It added that three out of 10 Android phone users are likely to click on a contaminated link this year.
Android phones have been more exposed to viruses as Google leaves the application market unmonitored, while items at Apple’s Appstore must first be approved by the company.
AhnLab advises that smartphone users should run the vaccine before downloading a file on smartphones from desktops or installing applications from the market, and refrain from clicking emails or URLs of text messages from unverified senders. They should also continue updating the security program as well as lock smartphones and change their passwords from time to time.
It advised users to turn off Bluetooth after using it and recommends they should not store usernames or passwords on smartphones.