We all know that Android has more security vulnerabilities when compared to Apple. The OS is open, ripe for malware apps, and sometimes plagued with a more lenient approval process for Market apps. On the occasion of Google’s announcement of its support for the H.264 video codec in Chrome, Steve Chang, Trend Micro founder and chairman, made public his view on the security issues of the Android operating system: “Android is open-source, which means the hacker can also understand the underlying architecture and source code. We have to give credit to Apple, because they are very careful about it.”
On the other hand, Chang asserts that Apple has addressed this issue since the beginning by creating a “sandbox concept that isolates the platform, which prevents certain viruses that want to replicate themselves or decompose and recompose to avoid virus scanners.”
Sophos, anti-virus programme developer, shares the same opinion regarding Android’s vulnerability to malware attacks, especially through malicious Facebook messages. Sophos’ and Trend’s statements seem to have a marketing hint aimed at increasing their products that fight malware attacks–of course you’ll need their security apps for your Android phones.
Speaking of top technology products that are offered at the moment, we must mention Lookout Mobile, the smartphone security company. Lookout Mobile launched a premium service, in addition to already offering a free one.
With respect to security, Lookout published a list of tips on their website in order to increase security of mobile devices. The setting of a password so as to protect stored data in cases of theft or loss is the first step to be taken. Secondly, the updated must be downloaded constantly as they address the latest issues in software. Other pieces of advice mention the use of anti-viruses and the download of apps from trusted sites after having previously read reviews and ratings on them. Also, ‘find your phone’ apps, cautiousness in accessing links from SMSs and public WiFi networks.
[...] the security industry steps in to address Android’s rising issues, stories like this become marketing fodder for new antivirus [...]
[...] Trapster is but the latest to join a list of mobile security issues and updates lately. Researchers demonstrated at the Black Hat DC Conference a new way of attacking PCs and Smartphones; via USB. Before that came the Cisco Annual Security Report which indicated increased scammers attention towards non-Windows platforms, and an official admission of the open-source Android’s vulnerability. [...]
[...] Android Malware = Marketing Fodder for Security App Makers [...]