Malware Risk Grows Across Mobile Devices, Platforms

Malware infections for smartphones nearly doubled in the first half of 2016, compared with the second half of 2015, according to the latest Nokia Threat Intelligence Report. The report, which looks at stats and trends for malware infections in devices connected through mobile and fixed networks globally, examined more than 100 million devices, including mobile phones, laptops, notepads and internet of things (IoT) devices. Key findings show that the malware infection rate hit an all-time high in April and the Android operating system is the most targeted mobile platform. More troubling is the detection of new, sophisticated malware that is more difficult to detect and remove and can permanently take over control of a phone. One of the key challenges is attackers targeting a broader range of applications and platforms, according to Nokia. For security providers, this means keeping their network-based managed security services toolbox up-to-date with the latest technologies that detect and prevent malware across devices. Here are key report findings that indicate a growing malware threat across devices and platforms.