14 DAY TRIAL // Google’s Android operating system is currently the most popular mobile platform out there, which worries a lot of people, mainly due to the security risks that it exposes users to.
The main issue when it comes to Android is the fact that there are many users still operating devices that run under old flavors of the mobile operating system.
According to a document that Public Intelligence has obtained, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are worried about the fact that around 44 percent of Android devices out there are still running under versions 2.3.3 to 2.3.7.
Due to that, users are exposed to a multitude of security flaws that have been resolved in newer versions of the platform.
Said document, however, was destined "for official use only," as CNet notes in a recent article, and does not say how many US government agencies are using Android.
Apparently, Android is viewed as a "primary target for malware attacks," mainly due to the market share it enjoys at the moment. Furthermore, the fact that it is being used by many government people "makes it more important" to have it up to date and patched.
The report also unveils that around 79 percent of mobile threats target Google’s Android platform, while Symbian comes in second, with 19 percent of malware designed for it.
Platforms such as Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, iOS, and others are targeted by less than 1 percent mobile malware each.
Said document also unveils the fact that almost half of the malicious applications that are circulating at the moment on older Android flavors are represented by SMS text messages.
Cybercriminals also make use of rootkits to attack Android devices, as well as of fake Google Play domains. Thus, only IT-approved updates should be allowed, said document notes. Users can also protect their devices through installing security apps on their smartphones and tablets.