14 DAY TRIAL // The same as it happens with desktop operating systems, mobile platforms are also subject to malicious attacks from cybercriminals, this is a well-known fact. Since the year 2009 is almost gone, some of the most popular security companies have started to unveil their previsions for the next year, and we've got two interesting forecasts on mobile operating systems coming from Kaspersky Lab and BitDefender.
Both companies seem to agree on the fact that Apple's iPhone OS is set to see a rather harsh year 2010. Some of you might have learned already that the first malicious programs for the platform emerged during the ongoing year, and it seems that more are expected to surface. However, both Kaspersky and BitDefender expect for users of a jail-break iPhone to be the main targets of cybercriminals, since their devices are seen as already being compromised.
Here's what BitDefender says about it in a recent press-release: “The latest iteration of iPhone (the 3GS family) dramatically increased the iPhone user-base, and many of them have decided to jail-break the operating system in order to install third-party applications. Jail-breaking involves activation of the SSH service with a default password and root access. BitDefender expects that 2010 will bring new e-threats focusing on the rapidly-growing mobile platform, especially worms and password-stealing Trojans.”
While things seem to be clear when it comes to the iPhone, there is a little controversy when it comes to Google's Android operating system. According to Karspersky, all Android users are vulnerable to attacks, mainly due to the increased popularity of the platform. At the same time, BitDefender says that Android users won't have much to worry about, and that the same applies to users of the Maemo platform.
Karspersky states that rough times are coming for “Android users who are all vulnerable to attack. The increasing popularity of mobile phones running the Android OS combined with a lack of effective checks to ensure third-party software applications are secure, will lead to a number of high-profile malware outbreaks.” According to BitDefender, since Android's and Maemo's “market share is still insignificant as compared to Windows Mobile, Symbian and iPhone OS, malware authors will not focus their efforts on finding vulnerabilities, but rather strengthen their efforts on social engineering attacks.”