McAfee Launches Anti-Malware Solution for Android

Today, McAfee, Inc. announced the launch of its anti-malware solution for Android-based mobile phones. The company's McAfee VirusScan Mobile technology is currently available for the SK Telecom customers in Korea owning handsets powered by Google's Android operating system and by Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS. According to the company, the software solution is available for download at no additional cost from SK Telecom’s mobile application store “Tstore.”

“Wherever mobile consumers go, threats will follow them,” says Jan Volzke, worldwide head of mobile marketing for McAfee. “McAfee is committed to tackling mobile threats. The introduction of McAfee VirusScan Mobile technology for Android allows McAfee to protect more consumers in more situations of their rapidly changing digital life.”

McAfee notes that the Mobile Internet usage is currently on an upwards track, and that the usage of mobile services is also growing fast, something that will attract cyber criminals to this area. Since competition in the innovation segment is fierce, application developers require more device access and, since their products are enjoying wider distribution, the emergence of security breaches is inevitable, the security company added.

The McAfee VirusScan Mobile technology has been designed to protect SK Telecom’s mobile devices from malware, while securing personal information. The solution comes with automatic protection updates, and can secure the mobile phone as soon as new threats are found. The solution uses real-time scanning, and should protect mobile phone owners from known and suspicious Android-based malware. The McAfee VirusScan Mobile technology can be installed on the Motorola XT720, and should arrive on other Android-based handsets in Korea soon.

“The user environment of a smartphone is similar to that of a PC, so many security issues can be applied equally,” said Hu jong Kim, service technique director of SK Telecom. “Infections can occur over message attachments, application downloads and Bluetooth. Through this partnership, we are pleased to now offer our SK Telecom users peace of mind that their smartphones have a new level of security.”