Android: malware attacks on smartphones are up 500% in Europe

Researchers said they have observed a 500% increase in smartphone malware infections in Europe since the beginning of February 2022, with the majority on Android smartphones.

Mobile malware attacks are on the rise in Europe. According to a new study by Proofpoint, since the beginning of February 2022, malware attacks against smartphones increased by almost 500%. Yet by the end of 2021, the number of attacks had dropped significantly.

All smartphones do not seem to be impacted in the same way, since a majority of them target Android devices. In effectthe majority of malware has been observed on Android phonessix of the most dangerous malware targeting Google’s operating system, against only one targeting iOS, according to Proofpoint researchers.

In question, the more open nature of the Android market and the ability to download apps from third-party app stores. This makes devices using Google’s operating system more vulnerable to less knowledgeable users. It is for this reason that Apple recently declared that iOS was more secure than Android.

Also to read : This malware claims to film you when you watch porn, the hacker demands a ransom of 2400€!

What are the most common types of malware?

According to information from Proofpointcybercriminals try to send malicious SMS and apps to users to steal sensitive information, including passwords and bank details. We can therefore only advise you not to click on the links that you may receive by SMS from strangers.

New types of malware have recently appeared, and these would be capable of recording audio and video content, tracking the location of smartphone owners and even completely erasing data from a device, according to the report. Indeed, at the beginning of the year we saw the BRATA malware which was capable of deleting data from your smartphone and emptying your bank account. Fake Android antivirus on Google Play Store are also able to steal your money.

Source: Proofpoint