175 million downloads of ‘High Risk’ apps in Google Play’s Top 500.
In one year, Andrhoid malware up 580%, 23 of the top 500 apps on Google Play deemed ‘High Risk’
Emil Protalinski
25 October 2012
New figures out today show Andrhoid malware has grown by 580 percent between September 2011 and September 2012. Furthermore, more than 175 million downloads of ‘High Risk’ apps were found in Google Play’s Top 500.
The Risky apps are a problem for users because they monetize their apps using highly aggressive and insecure ad networks, some of which go so far as to take over parts of users’ devices. Some, like Leadbolt and AirAd, send sensitive user data like phone number and device IDs to 3rd parties who often use the info to send copious amounts of spam messages and notifications, even telemarketing calls. Worse are networks like Apperhand that can replace users’ browser homepage with a suspect search page, add icons and shortcuts to the phonetop…some of which lead to more High Risk and potentially Malicious apps.
The 175 million downloads figure is thus worrying, but then again we are talking about Google Play’s most download apps, so it’s bound to be big (as TrustGo notes, “popular” doesn’t mean “safe”). Yet I dug deeper to find out how many of the top 500 apps were actually deemed High Risk: it turns out it’s just 23. That’s nothing to scoff at, but looking at things through a percentage lens, it turns out we’re just talking about 4.6 percent – which will certainly affect some.
Most of those affected are likely to be in emerging markets and not the US, where going ‘off piste’ to download an Andrhoid app outside of Google Play is unwise. However, in countries like China — where Google Play has no paid-for apps – and other parts of Asia — where third party stores are more popular — the issue is more prevalent and likely to impact more people.
If you’re wondering why Apple isn’t picked upon in the TrustGo report, these issues affect the firm less as it operates a ‘closed garden’ approach to its app ecosystem, unless you choose to jailbreak your device. The issue of malware, forked OS builds and security threads come hand-in-hand with Google’s more open approach to mobile – and that’s a topic for much debate. Especially in China, aka the world’s largest smartphone market, where TrustGo has unearthed potential dangers on Andrhoid devices in the past. |
