Malware Is A Threat On Android

The sheer number of smartphones running the Android operating system means many devices are targeted by various types of malware. Android is a target for malware because there are millions of users who have an Android device and malware can crack Android easier than an iPhone, iPad, or phones running Windows.

Numerous Applications

There are millions of smartphones and tablets that run Android. This is the main reason that one kind of malware can hit a majority of users. The threat of malware is growing and apps that are high-risk or are malicious number about 720,000.

Users need to have protection on their device when it is not set up for Google Play to download apps. This means installing some third-party apps that will scan an app to see if is is clean and free of malicious software.

Trojan Horses

Trojan horses make up about half the malware threats to Android. A Trojan Horse is a program that acts like a legitimate application, but is actually malicious. One of the biggest uses for an app that is a Trojan Horse is to use text message programs to send messages to a phone number to trigger a payment from a user's account. Text message charges can be hundreds to thousands of dollars per user.

Rootkits

Another type of malicious program or threat to an Android device is a rootkit. This is a type of software which will be hidden in the background on a tablet or smartphone. The software will then record all keystrokes made by a user, their location, and any passwords. Software that contains a rootkit can often be found on App Stores that may look like Google Play, but are fake. The idea is to get users to download malicious software.

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Downloading

The Android operating system is able to inst all software from various locations. A user has a variety of options available to download and install apps other than Google Play. The reason this is possible is the operating system can be installed on devices that are not labeled as official by Google.

Any devices that are not official do not have access to Google Play. This means using an alternative app store for finding and installing the most popular apps. One aspect about alternative app stores is they may not scan apps to see if there are any malicious files.

Security Features

Android comes with many security features that can be used to screen for malicious apps. Tablets and smartphones can download Google Play Services which has an update that will add a scanning feature when installing apps. This scanning feature is found in the Google Setting application. This can benefit users by not needing to install antivirus software to scan apps once they have been downloaded.

The storage of sensitive user data on smartphones and tablets means security is a concern. A device can transmit the financial information and location information of a user. This means a user should take all the necessary steps to keep their device protected from malware and malicious software.

Nick Bagley

About the Author:

Today's guest post was provided by Nick Bagley. Nick has a passion for new and innovative forms of online digital marketing.