The test of free antivirus for Android – PC Format

For several years, Google’s position in the mobile virus does not change.
 In July 2014. Adrian Ludwig, an engineer involved in the security of Android, said that anti-virus software in the Google mobile system is not needed. Just the fact that the applications brought to the store Play undergo full review and are thoroughly checked for malicious activity. Representatives of the company had already argued that anti-virus software created with a view
 about Android is worthless.

completely different issue perceive external security companies. According to the report, Kaspersky Lab in 2014, 295.5 thousand were detected. new modifications of malware on mobile devices.
 And as reported by the company Fortinet, now the number of new threats than 3 000 a day. The fact that cybercriminals are fond of mobile devices, it can also provide the decrease in the number of malicious software created with the aim of desktop Windows.

Home victim

 
 Malware writers depend on the fact that their program has infected the greatest number of devices, so creating viruses acting on the world’s most popular platforms. Currently the software is Android, whose share of the global market for mobile operating systems is now 80 percent. It is not surprising that malware written specifically for Android accounts for over 97 per cent. mobile viruses. Interestingly, the remaining 3 percent. malicious software created for older systems, eg. Symbian. Viruses attacking Windows Phone and iOS, with few exceptions, virtually non-existent.

How does a virus

Android is open source, and the user has access to a large part of the system resources
 and many functions. That there was a misfortune, the person using the smartphone itself must give the virus access to sensitive parts of the system. Therefore, malware writers have resorted to simple tricks. Just by putting on the internet – usually outside the store Google
 - A program that will attract the attention of users. This application can be a pirate copy of the popular game or repeatedly tool to speed up your smartphone or extend its battery life. Installing a program from a suspect source user performs the dirty work for the hacker – it provides resources for your phone.

Microsoft and Apple,
 in contrast to Google, allow you to install on smartphones equipped with their operating systems only those applications that come with the official stores. Located there come a thorough inspection programs. To install any apps from unofficial sources, you first need to compromise the security of the system, and this requires specialist knowledge.

Main threats

There are several types of viruses created with the aim of smartphones, but the vast majority of them are Trojans (Trojans). This is a software that pretends to be another application, such as. Popular game. After installation, the system introduces unwanted changes – install spyware or adds gates allowing to take control of the device.

The most common type of mobile Trojan horse Trojan-SMS. The program takes control of the phone and secretly sends SMS messages to premium numbers. Month of operation of such a virus can result in account counted in thousands of dollars. Second, often common type of Trojan, Trojan-Downloader, which itself does not contain pests, but it gets them in the system after installation.

Equally dangerous as they are called Trojans. backdoors, or placed
 gaps in the system that allow, among others, acquire data on the smartphone. The easiest way to avoid hacking is frequently updating your smartphone software. In this way there is left open gates for criminals.