Android Leads the Way in Mobile Malware

Cnet: A new report from Juniper Networks says that malware on Google’s Android platform has soared 474 percent since July. October and November have been particularly bad, with the fastest rise in malicious files for Android ever.

Juniper blames the problem on Google’s lack of app review. “The main reason for the malware epidemic on Android is because of different approaches that Apple and Google take to police their application stores,” noted Juniper. “Android’s open applications store model, which lacks the code signing and an application review process that Apple requires, makes it easy for attackers to distribute their malware. There is still no upfront review process in the official Android Market that offers even the hint of a challenge to malware writers that their investment in coding malware will be for naught.”