Android is a hot bed for malicious
malware . This malware is so
dangerous that it can destroy your
phone, and even your life if you’re not
careful. The worst part is it’s already
happening to you right now! There is
no place to hide! It’s everywhere! At
least that’s what some people want
you to believe. Android malware has
been a hot topic for several years.
With just a quick search for “malware”
on this site you can find many stories
about this topic. There are reports
from security companies about
Android malware being on the rise,
infographics for fighting malware,
reports of Google patching holes , and
much more. It’s time to set things
straight once and for all. This is the
truth about Android malware.
1. It exists
If you are using something that has
access to the internet you are
susceptible to malware. Windows,
Mac, iPhone, and even Blackberry
devices are susceptible to malware.
Being able to access the internet
makes any device a target for
malware. Android is no exception. In
the past few years there have been
cases where Android devices were
infected by malware. The most public
cases were from Microsoft’s #
DroidRage campaign. They held a
device giveaway for anyone that was
infected with Android malware.
Still, those are extreme (and maybe
fake) cases. Despite what you may
have heard Android is actually one of
the less susceptible platforms out
there. It is estimated that less than
0.001% of app installations are able to
evade Google’s security measures.
Even though the malware exists it’s
not a serious concern for most Android
users.
2. Google has security
There are some people who think
Android is like the Wild West. They
think the sheriff, Google, is out-of-
town and everyone is free to do as
they please. This is obviously not
true. Google has advanced security
tools with many layers of protection.
The 0.001% of apps that do make it
pass Google’s security have to make
it through all the levels in the chart
below.
That’s 7 layers of security. If the user
doesn’t have unknown sources
enabled, like most average users
don’t, the app won’t even make it past
the second level. Android is not the
wild west, but it’s not Apple’s walled
garden either. Google will let anyone
upload an app to the Play Store, but
that doesn’t mean they will let it infect
your device. They have your back.
3. The iPhone isn’t immune
There’s a very misinformed notion
that somehow the iPhone is somehow
immune from all of this. Despite
owning the biggest piece of
smartphone market share, it’s true,
the iPhone may not be as big of a
target as Android devices. This is
largely in part due to iOS not giving
users the ability to download/install
apps from outside sources like on
Android, but security flaws within the
OS are exposed frequently.
In fact, security firm Symantec
published a report last year in which
they discovered 387 security holes in
iOS
. Android? Only 13. More recently, it
was discovered that the default Mail
app used in most recent versions of
iOS wasn’t encrypting email
attachments properly, leaving them
wide open to attackers looking for
sensitive data.
With the process of “jailbreaking” an
iPhone or iPad being a practically 1-
click affair, there’s also a growing
number of iOS users turning to
jailbreaks in order to have access to
3rd party market places like the Cydia
app store, free from Apple’s iron fist.
A year ago, Evasi0n — a popular iOS
jailbreak method — logged 7 million
downloads of their free software the
week after it went live to the public.
That’s a lot of users.
Of course, jailbreaking opens up iOS
devices to many of the same non-
sanctioned, possibly malicious
applications as Android. In fact, it was
earlier this year, a proof of concept
malware was created
that showed how would-be häçkers
could record every screen press and
interaction a user had on their
jailbroken iOS devices. Not a huge
issue for the vast majority of iPhone/
iPad users who stick with the stock
firmware and App Store for all their
application needs, but then again, the
same could be said for Android users.
4. Some security apps are a scam
All of this fear mongering around
Android malware has created
opportunities to make some easy
money. A lot of people are more than
willing to shell out a few bucks if they
think it will protect them. There are
some really nice security apps
available, but most of the ones that
cost money aren’t worth it.
Norton & McAfee: These
companies have built a good
reputation on PCs, but their mobile
apps are unnecessary. They both
throw a ton of separate apps out
there for many different things like
dialer protection and cloud
security. You don’t need any of
these apps.
NQ Mobile: This app has lead
a controversial life. The company
is on the New York Stock
Exchange, but many people of
accused them of being a fraud. The
app has good reviews in the Play
Store, but be wary of the
accusations.
ρáíd Apps: Android is very
secure on its own. Paying for a
security app is a waste of money.
Plain and simple. If you do really,
really want an extra layer of
security we have a few
suggestions below.
5. Some security apps actually work
While some companies are trying
make easy money, others are trying to
actually help. There are a few apps
that you can use to give yourself some
peace of mind.
360 Mobile Security : The app
with the highest detection rate is
360 Mobile Security, coming in at
99.9%. This app is lightweight,
fast, and well designed. Above all
that is the functionality. It can do
standard scans, but also fix
system vulnerabilities, and help
your phone run more efficiently.
Avast!: The popular free
desktop anti-virus program also
has an excellent Android app.
Avast scans your apps to provide
details on what they are doing,
scans URLs for malware, and even
has some anti-theft tools. The best
part about Avast! is it’s completely
free.
Lookout Security & Antivirus :
A great app that has been around
forever is Lookout. Like Avast!,
this app combines software and
physical security. It will scan apps
and give you reports, but also
allow you to track your phone if
it’s stolen. The detection rate for
malicious apps is 99.4% accurate.
Other security apps to consider
Of course, the security apps listed
above aren’t the only apps of their
kind in the Google Play Store. With so
many options to choose from, here are
a few others we found that, according
to their reviews, seem to be well-
received by their users. While we
haven’t tested these apps ourselves,
we’ll ask you guys if you’ve had any
experience/success with any of the
below listed apps. Any others you’d
recommend?
1 AntiVirus Security
2 CM Security
3 Dr. Web
4 F-Secure Mobile Security
5 Kaspersky Internet Security
6. You are the best weapon
The best way to avoid malware, and
this goes for any platform, is to be
smart. If you are installing *****ed
APKs from random websites you are
obviously more at risk. But, if you
follow these simple guidelines and
you and all your Android devices will
be safe.
1 Read reviews before
downloading an app in Google
Play.
2 Download APKs from trusted
or official sources.
3 Read the permissions
required by the app.
4 Ask about it on
AndroidForums.
If you do these things, and use a little
common sense, your Android device
will always be malware-free. If
anyone that you know is afraid of
getting a virus on their Android device
share this article with them. Together
we can end the terrible myths about
Android security.
malware . This malware is so
dangerous that it can destroy your
phone, and even your life if you’re not
careful. The worst part is it’s already
happening to you right now! There is
no place to hide! It’s everywhere! At
least that’s what some people want
you to believe. Android malware has
been a hot topic for several years.
With just a quick search for “malware”
on this site you can find many stories
about this topic. There are reports
from security companies about
Android malware being on the rise,
infographics for fighting malware,
reports of Google patching holes , and
much more. It’s time to set things
straight once and for all. This is the
truth about Android malware.
1. It exists
If you are using something that has
access to the internet you are
susceptible to malware. Windows,
Mac, iPhone, and even Blackberry
devices are susceptible to malware.
Being able to access the internet
makes any device a target for
malware. Android is no exception. In
the past few years there have been
cases where Android devices were
infected by malware. The most public
cases were from Microsoft’s #
DroidRage campaign. They held a
device giveaway for anyone that was
infected with Android malware.
Still, those are extreme (and maybe
fake) cases. Despite what you may
have heard Android is actually one of
the less susceptible platforms out
there. It is estimated that less than
0.001% of app installations are able to
evade Google’s security measures.
Even though the malware exists it’s
not a serious concern for most Android
users.
2. Google has security
There are some people who think
Android is like the Wild West. They
think the sheriff, Google, is out-of-
town and everyone is free to do as
they please. This is obviously not
true. Google has advanced security
tools with many layers of protection.
The 0.001% of apps that do make it
pass Google’s security have to make
it through all the levels in the chart
below.
That’s 7 layers of security. If the user
doesn’t have unknown sources
enabled, like most average users
don’t, the app won’t even make it past
the second level. Android is not the
wild west, but it’s not Apple’s walled
garden either. Google will let anyone
upload an app to the Play Store, but
that doesn’t mean they will let it infect
your device. They have your back.
3. The iPhone isn’t immune
There’s a very misinformed notion
that somehow the iPhone is somehow
immune from all of this. Despite
owning the biggest piece of
smartphone market share, it’s true,
the iPhone may not be as big of a
target as Android devices. This is
largely in part due to iOS not giving
users the ability to download/install
apps from outside sources like on
Android, but security flaws within the
OS are exposed frequently.
In fact, security firm Symantec
published a report last year in which
they discovered 387 security holes in
iOS
. Android? Only 13. More recently, it
was discovered that the default Mail
app used in most recent versions of
iOS wasn’t encrypting email
attachments properly, leaving them
wide open to attackers looking for
sensitive data.
With the process of “jailbreaking” an
iPhone or iPad being a practically 1-
click affair, there’s also a growing
number of iOS users turning to
jailbreaks in order to have access to
3rd party market places like the Cydia
app store, free from Apple’s iron fist.
A year ago, Evasi0n — a popular iOS
jailbreak method — logged 7 million
downloads of their free software the
week after it went live to the public.
That’s a lot of users.
Of course, jailbreaking opens up iOS
devices to many of the same non-
sanctioned, possibly malicious
applications as Android. In fact, it was
earlier this year, a proof of concept
malware was created
that showed how would-be häçkers
could record every screen press and
interaction a user had on their
jailbroken iOS devices. Not a huge
issue for the vast majority of iPhone/
iPad users who stick with the stock
firmware and App Store for all their
application needs, but then again, the
same could be said for Android users.
4. Some security apps are a scam
All of this fear mongering around
Android malware has created
opportunities to make some easy
money. A lot of people are more than
willing to shell out a few bucks if they
think it will protect them. There are
some really nice security apps
available, but most of the ones that
cost money aren’t worth it.
Norton & McAfee: These
companies have built a good
reputation on PCs, but their mobile
apps are unnecessary. They both
throw a ton of separate apps out
there for many different things like
dialer protection and cloud
security. You don’t need any of
these apps.
NQ Mobile: This app has lead
a controversial life. The company
is on the New York Stock
Exchange, but many people of
accused them of being a fraud. The
app has good reviews in the Play
Store, but be wary of the
accusations.
ρáíd Apps: Android is very
secure on its own. Paying for a
security app is a waste of money.
Plain and simple. If you do really,
really want an extra layer of
security we have a few
suggestions below.
5. Some security apps actually work
While some companies are trying
make easy money, others are trying to
actually help. There are a few apps
that you can use to give yourself some
peace of mind.
360 Mobile Security : The app
with the highest detection rate is
360 Mobile Security, coming in at
99.9%. This app is lightweight,
fast, and well designed. Above all
that is the functionality. It can do
standard scans, but also fix
system vulnerabilities, and help
your phone run more efficiently.
Avast!: The popular free
desktop anti-virus program also
has an excellent Android app.
Avast scans your apps to provide
details on what they are doing,
scans URLs for malware, and even
has some anti-theft tools. The best
part about Avast! is it’s completely
free.
Lookout Security & Antivirus :
A great app that has been around
forever is Lookout. Like Avast!,
this app combines software and
physical security. It will scan apps
and give you reports, but also
allow you to track your phone if
it’s stolen. The detection rate for
malicious apps is 99.4% accurate.
Other security apps to consider
Of course, the security apps listed
above aren’t the only apps of their
kind in the Google Play Store. With so
many options to choose from, here are
a few others we found that, according
to their reviews, seem to be well-
received by their users. While we
haven’t tested these apps ourselves,
we’ll ask you guys if you’ve had any
experience/success with any of the
below listed apps. Any others you’d
recommend?
1 AntiVirus Security
2 CM Security
3 Dr. Web
4 F-Secure Mobile Security
5 Kaspersky Internet Security
6. You are the best weapon
The best way to avoid malware, and
this goes for any platform, is to be
smart. If you are installing *****ed
APKs from random websites you are
obviously more at risk. But, if you
follow these simple guidelines and
you and all your Android devices will
be safe.
1 Read reviews before
downloading an app in Google
Play.
2 Download APKs from trusted
or official sources.
3 Read the permissions
required by the app.
4 Ask about it on
AndroidForums.
If you do these things, and use a little
common sense, your Android device
will always be malware-free. If
anyone that you know is afraid of
getting a virus on their Android device
share this article with them. Together
we can end the terrible myths about
Android security.