It doesn’t matter what smartphone platform you’re fond of, no one likes malware. Some operating systems in the mobile market have less malware to contend with in part because the ecosystem is much more closed than Android. It’s very easy for Android users to install applications from any number of app stores on the Internet that anyone can put up, while other platforms limit users to a single app store where everything is inspected.

According to security specialists F-Secure, Android accounted for 79% of all malware in 2012. The company says that Apple iOS on the other hand accounted for only 0.7% of all malware. The number for Android is up significantly from 66.7% of all malware in 2011. In 2010, the Android platform accounted for only 11.25% of all malware.

As the popularity of Android has boomed, more and more malware is targeting the platform. Interestingly, Symbian still accounts for 19% of all malware despite being abandoned by Nokia. That operating system is expected to disappear completely this year.

F-Secure says that Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and J2ME devices each accounted for less than 1% of malware threats during 2012. We can certainly make the argument that the reason Android accounts for the bulk of the malware in the mobile market has to do with the fact that it’s also the most popular platform on the market.

[via TechCrunch]

3 COMMENTS

  1. Where is that malware?
    NOBODY has shown a single video of Android malware or other proof of its existence outside the third-party CHINA stores.

    Yes, it’s popularity. Android is #1.

    The best way Apple and Microsoft can invent to compete with it is to spread FUD (including malware-FUD) about it to squeeze it out of BUSINESS segment and premium market.

    US-based Google Play is clear.

    It’s Apple’s marketing bullsh*t.
    if you visit links, ads, banners, websites from all Apple ios devices, you are in the same dagner as everybody else.

    • Holy crap do you ever visit this website? They’ve done plenty of articles alerting users to Android malware in a timely matter. But children like you can only blame Apple for something they have no part in. Grow up and stop running your mouth.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.