A recent rise in Android malwareâ€"combined with increased efforts to
combat the threatâ€"highlight the fact that, just like tech companies, app
makers, and users, hackers are fast turning their attention to mobile
devices. What's more, experts say, such devices are often configured in
ways that make it easier for malware to thrive.
Several new types of Android malware have been spotted "in the wild"
in recent weeks, and they demonstrate growing sophistication. One
specimen, dubbed Opfake, is a bogus Web browser that automatically makes
calls to premium phone lines. Opfake exhibits a powerful trick
previously seen only in desktop malware, whereby the code repeatedly
mutates to make anti-virus detection more difficult.
To counter the rising tide of threats, Google last week announced it had launched an app prescreening tool called Bouncer that runs a server-based simulation to check apps for malicious
behaviorâ€"such as attempts to access or send personal data, or simply
send out pricey text messages. Google blocks them before they get into
the official Android Market.