Malware Risk Grows Across Mobile Devices, Platforms
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Mobile Malware Infections on the Rise
Android OS takes the top spot as the most targeted mobile platform, as malware infections hit an all-time high, a new report from Nokia shows. -
Mobile Security Trouble Spot
Smartphone infections accounted for 78% of the infections detected in the mobile network. The remaining 22% are related to Windows/PC systems connected using dongles or tethered through phones. -
Targeting Android OS
Android smartphones accounted for 74% of all malware infections compared to Window/PC systems (22%) and other platforms, including iOS devices (4%). -
Smartphone Infections Nearly Double
Smartphone infections increased 96% in the first half of 2016. The infection rate averaged 0.49 percent in the first half of 2016, compared to 0.25 percent in the second half of 2015, nearly doubling. -
Malware Spike
The average monthly infection rate for all mobile devices increased to 0.66%. -
Malware Infections at All-Time High
Mobile infections peaked at 1.06% of devices tracked in April. This translates into 1 out of every 120 smartphones with some type of malware infection. Malware infections included ransomware, spyphone applications, SMS Trojans, personal information theft and adware. -
Sophisticated Malware
New variations of malware are using multiple methods to bypass safeguards and take permanent control of devices. April's peak is attributed to smartphone infections related to Kasandra, SMSTracker and UaPush Android trojans. -
Top Threats
The top three mobile malware threats—Uapush.A, Kasandra.B and SMSTracker—accounted for 47% of all infections. -
More Malware Samples
The number of infected Android apps in Nokia's malware database increased 75% from 5.1 million in December 2015 to 8.9 million in July 2016. -
Downloaded Mobile Apps Pose Risks
Downloaded mobile apps are a key channel for malware attacks. Case in point: The Nokia Threat Intelligence Lab detected infected copies of a popular mobile game within hours after posting on untrusted third-party download sites. -
Home WiFi Concerns
The monthly infection rate in residential fixed broadband networks averaged 12% in the first half of 2016, up from 11% in late 2015, primarily due to malware on Windows PCs and laptops in the home, but including infections on smartphones using home WiFi.
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Defining MSPs' Goals, Challenges and Tools 
Why Metrics Matter to the Channel 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.