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By Don Reisinger on 2011-06-13
For a long time, the greatest threat to your company’s security was in the form of desktop-based malware. Cybercriminals around the world create programs and other malicious services that can wreak havoc on your network and steal important data. With the growing use of mobile devices in the enteprise, a new threat is emerging. Not only do you need to worry about devices being stolen, but malware on mobile products is becoming a growing issue. Google’s Android operating system, Symbian, and even iOS are all bigger targets than ever for cybercriminals. That was made abundantly clear in McAfee’s 1Q 2011 Threats Report, which reveals that mobile threats are on the rise. And you need to be prepared before trouble erupts. Read on to find out about the current state of mobile malware and how these trends might impact you and your company going forward.
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6 millionDuring 1Q 2011, McAfee found 6 million unique malware issues, making it the most-active quarter in history.
SymbianSymbian was the most malware-targeted mobile environment during 1Q 2011, accounting for more than 75 percent of all mobile malware.
AndroidNot surprisingly to those who have been watching the headlines, Android was the second-most-targeted mobile environment during the quarter.
No Safe PlatformHowever, those who use other operating systems shouldn’t necessarily feel safe. Mobile malware was found on on platforms, including iOS, BlackBerry OS, in 1Q 2011.
Malware InnovationMcAfee discovered during 1Q 2011 that those who developed the “Zeus crimeware toolkit” have developed new versions of the Zitmo exploit for Symbian and Windows Mobile.
SMS ThreatThe Android/Bgyoulu creators have created a mobile malware that opens a phone up to being attacked through SMS.
Spam AttacksSpam proved to be another issue during 1Q 2011, but levels were at their lowest since 2007, thanks to the takedown of the Rustock botnet.
Product-Related MessagesAccording to McAfee, cybercriminals were able to lure unsuspecting victims through spam attacks by sending product-related messages.
News EventsMajor events, including the Japanese earthquake, proved to be most associated with malicious files. In fact, 50 percent of the top 100 search terms related to major events in 1Q 2011 led to malicious sites, McAfee found.
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