— Featuring proprietary anti-ransomware technology
— Malwarebytes now provides superior mobile protection for Android users to protect against growing levels of mobile malware
— Android ransomware increased more than 100 percent, globally, between Q1 and Q2 2017
Singapore – August 24, 2017 – Malwarebytes™, the leading advanced malware prevention and remediation solution, today announced the release of Malwarebytes for Android, featuring targeted defense against mobile malware, ransomware, adware, infected applications and unauthorized surveillance. Combining multiple distinct protection layers, Malwarebytes for Android is a more effective and efficient replacement for antivirus on mobile devices.
According to data collected by Malwarebytes in the first half of 2017, incidences of Android malware increased more than five percent since the start of the year. Most notably, incidents of Android ransomware increased 138 percent, globally, in Q2 2017 over Q1 2017, with Jisut, SLocker and Koler ransomware collectively accounting for nearly 95 percent of these detections.While Android ransomware is growing at this rapid pace, Trojans and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) remain the biggest issues for Android users. Android Trojans accounted for more than 48 percent of all Android malware detections in the first half of 2017 and PUPs accounted for 47 percent of all detections.
Notably Asia Pacific is seeing a 22% growth in Android malware, since the start of the year. Which is more than 4 times the growth in Android malware seen globally (5%). Indicating that Asia Pacific continues to be a hotbed for Android malware. The countries seeing the sharpest rise in Android malware incidences are Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, which saw an 88.16%, 28%, 19.92% and 17.51% increase in Android malware incidences respectively.
|
Country
|
Percentage increase in Android malware incidences from Q1 to Q2 2017
|
|
|
1
|
Thailand
|
88.16%
|
|
2
|
Singapore
|
28%
|
|
3
|
Indonesia
|
19.92%
|
|
4
|
Philippines
|
17.51%
|
|
5
|
Malaysia
|
1.66%
|
|
6
|
Hong Kong
|
0.93%
|
|
7
|
South Korea
|
0.82%
|
|
8
|
Japan
|
-6.13%
|
|
9
|
Taiwan
|
-6.95%
|
|
10
|
India
|
-16.54%
|
Jeff Hurmuses, Area Vice President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Malwarebytes, said, “The sharp rise in Android malware here in Asia Pacific clearly points towards a dire need for Android users, both businesses and consumers, to get serious about protecting their devices.”
He added, “Some quick tips for individuals to keep their Android devices safe include: only installing apps from trusted sources; avoiding suspicious and pirated apps, updating your Android OS regularly, and using an antivirus program.” Malwarebytes for Android features several distinct benefits and features for users to protect against this increasingly dangerous mobile threat landscape, including:
- Anti-Malware proactively and automatically scans mobile applications, files, native memory and SD cards for malware and spyware, in addition to PUPs and adware for removal.
- Anti-Ransomware proactively stops ransomware in its tracks with proprietary next-generation technology and remediates ransomware incidents.
- Process Automation schedules automatic device scans and color codes device health issues by severity.
- Security Audit identifies security vulnerabilities on the device and suggests remediation.
- Privacy Manager identifies every application’s access privileges in detail and breaks down access privileges by category.
- Scanner showcases scan progress and identifies types of infections found, removal results and scan history.
To optimize the mobility of these features, Malwarebytes for Android can be easily managed from a desktop widget. The app can also be controlled using SMS to remotely lock a device, remediate a device if it is being held ransom, and reset device pin codes.
“Windows devices are no longer the sole victims of damaging malware attacks, as strategic attacks on android devices are rapidly on the rise,” said Armando Orozco, Senior Mobile Malware Intelligence Analyst, Malwarebytes. “All Android users need to remain alert and proactively guard their identity and data on the go, just as they do on their computers at home.”
For further details on Malwarebytes for Android, click here.
About Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is the next-gen cybersecurity company that millions worldwide trust. Malwarebytes proactively protects people and businesses against dangerous threats such as malware, ransomware and exploits that escape detection by traditional antivirus solutions. The company’s flagship product combines advanced heuristic threat detection with signature-less technologies to detect and stop a cyberattack before damage occurs. More than 10,000 businesses worldwide use, trust and recommend Malwarebytes. Founded in 2008, the company is headquartered in California, with offices in Europe and Asia and a global team of threat researchers and security experts. For more information, please visit us at http://www.malwarebytes.com/.
Malwarebytes founder and CEO Marcin Kleczynski started the company to create the best disinfection and protection solutions to combat the world’s most harmful Internet threats. Marcin was recently named “CEO of the Year” in the Global Excellence awards and has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Rising Stars of Enterprise Technology list and the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award, adding those to an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
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