Android – The mobile botnet

Malware has long been known to plague Android but things appear to be getting worse.

• Single pieces of malware that cause problems on devices are one thing, but the existence of a botnet implies a systemic, controlled and criminal system to exploit users of Android devices.
• Evidence has been uncovered that points strongly towards at least 1 million Android devices being infected with a Trojan-based piece of malware that acts to create a botnet.
• A botnet is far more sinister than a regular piece of malware as infected computers form part of a network of devices that do the bidding of whoever runs the botnet.
• This includes denial-of-service attacks or any criminal or fraudulent activity that the botnet master desires.
• An infected device could consume vast quantities of data at the owner’s expense, steal personal data or even get the user into trouble if the device is connected with criminal activity.
• Fortunately, the infected malware, which has been found in 7.000 applications including Temple Run and Fishing Joy, is only available on the non-Google app stores.
• The real growth of Android is now in the super-cheap low end of the market where price is everything.
• There are minimal security measures protecting Android and one can easily see how hackers and criminals will be beavering away looking for more ways to exploit the vulnerabilities of this OS where the outlook for it to improve is poor.
• They have started with the soft targets and I am sure that the higher-end Google devices will also be in the cross hairs.
• This problem is minor at the moment and limited to the non-Google versions of Android but the trend is worrying.
• This is further evidence of the systemic weakness inherent to Android and plays further to the opportunity for Microsoft to offer something better and safer at the same price.