Beware! Your Apple iOS or Android Phone Can Be Infected By Malware

As technology becomes more prevalent, the viruses or, rather, the predators that create them, increase as well.

According to McAfee, a protection provider, malware is multiplying faster than ever. In the last quarter alone, there were “1.5 million more attacks than previously. With new technology, comes changes in the threats — botnets and ransomware are just some of the new things to watch out for.”
Computers using Windows operating systems are still hit the hardest but more viruses are now targeting Macs and the Android system that powers a large portion of Smartphones, two of the emerging computer foundations.

Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee Labs, says the attacks permeate every level of computer use, from home computers to business and government machines, as well as the previously unheard-of mobile market.

“Flashback,” a Trojan horse virus that started in 2011, infected more than half a million Macs all over the world. Being used to immunity from malware, many Mac users were unprepared for the virus, which posed as a Flash plug-in and stole usernames and passwords from thousands of computers and websites. While iOS has remained relatively safe from threats, new problems are popping up every day.
Google continues to try to keep good security on their Android operating system, but criminals are targeting the OS, especially as it becomes popular with less-computer-savvy and more susceptible users. McAfee’s report indicates it is the most popular mobile operating system being targeted currently.

One big trend emerging in the malware industry is “ransomware.” It erases personal data and can hold it hostage until the owner pays money via the Internet to set it free. This is only one of the many programs that is becoming more popular among cyber criminals. What should you do?

Install Microsoft Security Essentials for PCS: One program professionals and other computer repair companies recommend is the anti-virus program for the basic user — Microsoft Security Essentials. It’s free, easy to use, updated frequently and provides great protection from most Internet-born parasites. The fact that it’s made by Microsoft, the company that makes Windows, is a great benefit. Who is better equipped to know which Windows vulnerabilities hackers are targeting? Programmers can then integrate the fix seamlessly into Windows.

Avast! For MACS: If you just can’t get past the idea of trusting Microsoft to protect your Windows PC, or if you are running an alternate operating system, consider Avast! free antivirus. Avast is one of the highest-rated antivirus programs, according to AV Comparatives, an independent antivirus program reviewer. Avast offers both a free and a paid version, and boasts one of the fastest virus scans on the market. Avast! also uses fewer system resources when scanning, so you can continue to use your computer normally while the scan runs in the background. Anyone who has been held hostage by a seemingly endless scan that makes everything else on your system slow to a useless crawl can appreciate this benefit. Fun side note: You can select different voices to proclaim, “Ding! Avast’s virus definitions have been updated.” I am quite partial to Pirate.

Lookout Mobile for Smartphones: For the best mobile security app, check out Lookout Mobile Security, a free anti-virus and back-up solution that has received a five-star rating from CNET and PC World. It will even help you track down a lost mobile phone by showing its location on Google Maps. The premium version (available for $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year) adds the ability to back up photos and call history and perform a remote wipe if your phone is stolen.

Android Top Target for Malware

Android may be the most popular mobile operating system on the planet, but now it is also the system most targeted by malware.

In fact, malware targeting Google’s Android platform increased nearly six-fold in the third quarter this year — from 30,000 malicious and potentially dangerous apps in June to almost 175,000 in September, a report  released Oct. 22 by Trend Micro has found. The fact that only 20 percent of Android device owners use a security app does not help.

“It’s actually no surprise that we see such a huge increase in mobile malware,” says Trend Micro CTO Raimund Genes. “Android is the dominant Smartphone platform with an amazing success story. The digital underground reads the statistics and analysts reports as well, and they figured out way to make money with mobile malware. And unlike your computer, getting information from your phone also reveals your location, the phone numbers you have called – and more – all stuff which could be sold.”
The most common way to release malware on Android Smartphones is through fake versions of legitimate apps. The number of aggressive mobile adware also has skyrocketed.
“Though most adware is designed to collect user information, a fine line exists between collecting data for simple advertising and violating one’s privacy,” the report states.

“We also identified several adware that pose serious privacy-related threats. Apps that access your call history without informing you via an end-user license agreement (EULA) or their user interface (UI) constitute malicious behavior from a security perspective and are detected.”
The report also identifies the top spam-sending countries in the world. Saudi Arabia tops the list at 21 percent, with India taking the second slot at eight percent. Turkey and the United States tied for third with eight percent, followed by Peru at four percent and Brazil at three percent.

More key data:

• Dangerous zero-day exploits targeting Java and Internet Explorer (IE) were found. The IE vulnerability was used in an advanced persistent threat campaign.
• ZeroAccess malware, often on peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing sites, was the top infector in the computing public this quarter. The old DOWNAD/ Conficker worm was a close second.
• PayPal attracted the most phishermen while Linkedin was the top Blackhole Exploit Kit target.
• Corporations and governments remain viable APT targets. Lurid and Nitro APT campaign improvements were also noted.
• Social media threats and privacy concerns continue — Only 50 percent of Facebook users check their privacy settings every two to three months.

Post from: SiteProNews

Two New Forms of Malware Threatening Android Users: IC3

Two new forms of malware are on the loose and they are targeting the Android mobile operating system, according to a warning issued by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Loozfon, which steals information from users, and FinFisher, which can give hackers control over a user’s device are the latest threats, the IC3 says.

“Criminals use different variants to lure the victims. One version is a work-at-home opportunity that promises a profitable payday just for sending out e-mail,” the warning reads. “A link within these advertisements leads to a website that is designed to push Loozfon on the user’s device. The malicious application steals contact details from the user’s address book and the infected device’s phone number.”

FinFisher can effortlessly spread to a Smartphone when the user visits a specific URL or opens a text message camouflaged as a system update.

IC3 Safety tips to protect your mobile device:

• When buying a Smartphone, learn the features of the device, including the default settings. Turn off features that are not needed to lessen the risk of attack.
• Some phone operating systems have encryption available. Use it to protect personal data in the case of loss or theft.
• Read reviews of app developers before buying an application.
• Review and understand the permissions you are giving when you download apps.
• Passcode protect your cellphone and enable screen lock to kick in after a few minutes of inactivity.
• Purchase malware protection for your device. Use applications that specialize in antivirus or file integrity to help guard your device from rogue applications and malware.
• Beware applications that enable Geo-location because the app will track your location anywhere. Criminals such as a stalker or burglar can use this app.
• Anytime you, an application or service runs in “unrestricted” or “system” level within an operating system, any compromise can take full control of your phone.
• Do not connect to unknown wireless networks — these can be rogue access points that steal information passed between your device and a legitimate server.
• If you sell or trade your device, be sure to wipe the device clean by resetting it to factory default. This avoids leaving personal data on the device.
• Keep current with updates to run applications and firmware. If you neglect this, it increases the risk of having your device hacked or compromised.
• Do not click on or download software or links from unknown sources.
• Use the same precautions on your mobile phone as you would on your computer when using the Internet.

If you have been the victim of an Internet scam or have received an e-mail believed to be an attempted scam, file a complaint with IC3.

Post from: SiteProNews.com