The topic of malware on Android has taken an interesting turn today. We mentioned the report from F-Secure which was saying that Android accounted for 79 percent of all malware in 2012 and that iOS accounted for only 0.7 percent. The interesting turn came when Apple’s Phil Schiller decided to tweet about the report, and while not specifically using the word Android, he seems to have been sending the message with Android users in mind.
Anyway, the tweet was short and simple and warned users to “be safe out there.” Those four words were then followed by a link to the previously mentioned F-Secure report. As an Android user, what can we say; thanks. The slightly strange part here, Schiller is not all that active on Twitter. In fact, his previous tweet came on December 25 when he wished all his followers a “Happy Christmas.” And before that, he sent a love and prayers message to the folks in Newtown, Connecticut.
Basically, with those two tweets coming before this, the Android one seems a bit off. But again, thanks for the warning. On a more serious note though, that 79 percent number is based on a report with a total of 301 reports. Yes, just 301 in 2012. Putting the numbers aside though, this sort of brings back memories of the Mac vs. Windows arguments.
Putting this Schiller tweet to the side though and we offer a bit of common sense advice for Android users. Sure, there could be some issues with malware in apps, but for the most part it should be easy to avoid. Take caution when you sideload apps — make sure they are coming from a reputable site and/or person and when using the Google Play Store, check some of the additional details such as the developer name and permissions.
[via SlashGear]
Schiller reminds of a spoiled brat. How he ever made the Apple executive ranks is beyond many people.
You can’t bury your head in the sand. The threats are real. It’s becoming a big issue for those of us in corporate IT. I would rather have my employees with a good, safe, closed device than one where my users can side load whatever they want from the wide open market.
Well, that is only if you think that everyone employees of yours is an idiot. A of course it is real but so are window’s viruses. It does take common sense, but there is not need to have a siege mentality
DP has a point when it comes to corporate owned assets… We’ll always choose a locked down OS with a locked down Istore over a wide open OS with a less controlled Play store. Couple that with some of the enterprise level mobile security/management tools, and you’ve got a way to remotely manage (including wiping) devices.
Now BYOD is bringing another challenge… now you have all sorts of devices connecting to your Wi-Fi, that could have malware on them, which are out of your control. Only last month we had to track down a contractor’s Wi-Fi attached laptop that had a port scanning virus on it. Not so easy to track down as traditional wired corporate laptops.
Well Phil, I (and the *vast* majority of computer users) brave the Windows landscape every day. I think we can handle this so-called threat.
I wonder how bad it hurts knowing that your company has never once put out an OS with a large enough user base for hackers to want to bother with it. Security through obscurity? Tell me that isn’t the master plan.
iOS is out there pretty large buddy. It’s closed nature is an disadvantage in some ways, but you can’t deny it is a plus when it comes to threats.
yes, perhaps the only plus against 100 minus given it’s restrictive environment – meant for kiddy only
I don’t know about all of that. I do know that the iPhonw is a great phone and the product line is constant and high quality. With Android, you can get great or you can get crap. The user experiance is all over the board.
The main point here concerns security. Are you really serious in defending Android security flaws by saying Windows has them? Do you realize how much time and money goes into keeping those windows machines free of threats? And they still get in. I don’t want to go though that with company cell phones.
Android is for play. The iPhone is for the enterprise.
Apple is only jealous! They can’t have Malware on their iOS!
I still LOVE android! It’s just smiply the best operative system in the WORLD!
I don’t need Jailbreak hahaha APPLE!