Android malware rockets to hit million users in first half of 2011

Up to one million users were affected by Android malware in the first half of 2011 with over 400 apps infected, according to the latest stats from security vendor Lookout Mobile Security.

The firm's latest Mobile Threat Predictions report for 2012 said the likelihood of users encourntering malware on the platform rose from one per cent at the beginning of the year to four per cent.

"In total, we have identified more than 1,000 instances of infected applications, which is a doubling since the beginning of July 2011," the report found.

The global yearly likelihood of an Android user clicking on an unsafe link is 36 per cent, 6 per cent higher than July 2011.

The firm found a notable increase in what it branded "mobile pickpocketing" apps designed to charge high fees to premium rate accounts held by the attacker.

Just this week Google was forced to pull a series of malicious apps masquerading as legitimate titles such as Angry Birds, after they were discovered on the official Android Market apps store. The apps hid malicious Trojan software designed to covertly text premium rate numbers.

This particular scam was highlighted by Get Safe Online and Trend Micro last month, the latter estimating that mobile malware has grown an astonishing 800 per cent in just four months. Although Android has often been criticised for the openness of its platform, security problems have been spotted elsewhere.

Researcher Charlie Miller was notably thrown off the iOS developer programme for demonstrating one particularly tricky flaw which could allow rogue developers to bypass Apple's code signing restrictions on applications and remotely control an iPhone.

Microsoft has also suffered in recent days. A new SMS bug was found which could allow hackers to shut down the messaging hub on Windows Phone 7.5.