Malware in Android Devices ?

Malware developers are targeting Android mobile devices more than ever,

One-third of all mobile users, Android or Apple, may come across an unsafe link this year, according report by Lookout, a smartphone security company that monitors apps. Android users are particularly vulnerable, and are twice as likely to be hit with malware now as they were six months ago.

Up a million Android-devices may be infected with malware this year.

Also, the number of infected Android apps is growing, according to Lookout, from 80 Android apps in January to more than 400 apps by June.

The threats can be either app-based or Web-based. App-based threats come through malware and spyware, while Web-based attacks are typically through phishing schemes, browser exploits and downloads, said Lookout.

According to Lookout, which provides protection software of its own, app-based threats on Android’s Market are increasing, and “attackers are using new distribution techniques, such as malvertising and upgrade attacks.”

With Android’s sales growing, users will likely see even more malware pop up on their android phones and tablets. More than 500,000 units activated every day, and those numbers are expected to keep growing.

The app-based malware attacks may also continue to grow as people continue to download more apps onto their phones. Earlier this year, malware hit more than 250,000 Android users when they downloaded apps infected with DroidDream, a program that sends a phone’s ID number to a server for others to access.

Since more people are now using smartphones and tablets for financial purposes, mobile malware may prove particularly harmful.

Many people will use their phones for online shopping with programs such as Google Wallet and Isis, and as mobile e-commerce technology starts to take hold, people will also use their phones for shopping in brick-and-mortar stores as well. One well-placed malware app may tap into a user’s financial information and steal a great deal of money before the problem is detected.

While Apple users have had some problems with infected apps, the problem is not as widespread because the Cupertino, Calif.-based company more carefully vets the apps sold in its App Store.

On the other hand, Android devices are inviting target for hackers as Android Market is much more open in terms of submitting apps, leaving it wide open for hackers to install malicious code.

As malware attacks keep increasing, all mobile device users will need to use judgment when downloading software and apps onto their phones, just as they had learned to do on their personal computers.

The problem isn’t likely to go away soon, and will likely increase as more mobile devices come on the market and malware developers become more sophisticated with their work.

This post originally appeared at Mobiledia.