Malware in the Android smart phone is clearly a serious problem but just like car theft, it’s not a real problem unless it’s your car that’s stolen.
Lately, there has been a considerable increase in the number and complexity of malicious codes and programs specifically targeting Google’s Android platform.
The reason of it not being a big issue as yet is because not enough customers have been affected by the problem as yet.
The risks of having malware in your android smart phone
Many customers have not yet realized the risks that come with a virus infected android platform because they honestly don’t really care until they receive their first $1000 cell phone bill.
The malware is to blame for such situations when the pirated Angry Bird game on a customer’s cell phone tries calling at random numbers at will. But, that’s not the only way these malicious codes work.
The consequences can be far more serious than just a few high cost calls from your smart phone. Your identity could be stolen and used in illegal activities.
How to stay safe from Android issues?
Many users are simply just not aware of any Android issues or security flaws within the platform mostly because of the simple reason that they have not been involved in such a situation as yet.
Most users blindly continue to download unverified Android apps in to their smart phones and allow access through wireless and Bluetooth networks without giving any thought to the serious security risk.
The interesting thing about this is that people generally don’t use the same precautions for a smart phone which they would for their personal computers at home.
Most users don’t even take the time to read through the conditions and permissions text while installing a new app.
They would just skip forward impatiently to start using the app while missing a condition about the program using external resources and the internet connection to do its malicious work.
The Android platform is slightly flawed
Apple’s iPhone, as compared to the Android has its own iOS and has complete control over its maintenance and operations. All updates are sent from the official source.
Android on the other hand, has no such system, and the users are dependent on the independent mobile carriers and not Google itself, to post security upgrades.
This makes the Android’s distribution model very much flawed and exposed to security risks. It’s like having a Dell PC and then expecting it to be updated from the guys at Microsoft.
Developers are also to blame
Another suspect party contributing to the increase in malware incidents on the Android platform is the developer community itself.
They can easily put their custom app in the android market or a third party application store and make money while putting millions of android users at risk.
There are no review systems for ensuring quality and security of newly created apps. Users mostly have to depend on other user’s reviews before downloading and using an unverified app.
Can the Ice Cream Sandwich fix the problem?
The Android 4.0, also known as, the Ice Cream Sandwich, includes various built-in security measures designed to protect the OS from malware programs and software.
Experts are hopeful that the new OS along with modifications in the Android distribution system will fix the Android issues once and for all.
You saved my lots of money because i just thinking of purchasing an Android phone....
ReplyDelete