Phil Schiller Tweets Link to Mobile Malware Report That Slams Android

[wellred]

How much of this actually came from the play store?

http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/1...n-q3-sure-but-only-0-5-came-from-google-play/

"More importantly, if only 146 of the 28,398 malware samples were found on Google Play, that means 0.51 percent were on the company’s store. This means most users, at least in countries where Google Play is available, won’t ever see these malicious apps.

That’s not all. F-Secure also underlined another important point today:

Note: please remember that sample does not necessarily equal threat. Based on our detections, the number of “families” in the wild is actually down when compared to Q3 2011 "

 

[dontpannic]

Well if they dont want to have a look through a quick list explaining what the app can do, then thats there fault! A quick permission list and a long drawn out software agreement and two different things.

Image

People don't - and thats the problem. This stuff should pop up in big red letters when installing the app IF the OS is open enough that Apps can access this stuff, it shouldn't be hidden in a submenu.

People do not read things that come up on their screens - as an IT tech I get it all the time...

"Well what did the error message say?"
"Don't know, it was something about a disk?"

 

[bwillwall]

Surprise!
The more widespread OS has more malware.

Development http://build.developereconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DE13-26-011-1024x984.png

Web traffic http://chitika.com/uploads/iOs-vs-Android.jpg

Marketshare http://www.winbeta.org/sites/default/files/newsimages/jan2013mobileshare.jpg

 

[Oletros]

By giving everything root access.

Ein? No one has root access

----------

It doesn't. And the original poster is right. Most (but not all) of the infections from malware are the result of people doing something stupid. But that doesn't mean that it's OK for the platform to be so susceptible to it.

And how do you make a platform not susceptible to malware? The only way is forbidding any download outside a curated store.

 

[Dave.UK]

People don't - and thats the problem. This stuff should pop up in big red letters when installing the app IF the OS is open enough that Apps can access this stuff, it shouldn't be hidden in a submenu.

People do not read things that come up on their screens - as an IT tech I get it all the time...

"Well what did the error message say?"
"Don't know, it was something about a disk?"

Its not hidden though. This come up when installing an app. You have to agree to it before it allows you to install an app.

 

[LordVic]

Does your phone offer you 79% of all malware attacks?

Droid does...

it's a feature.

 

[dontpannic]

Its not hidden though. This come up when installing an app. You have to agree to it before it allows you to install an app.

Fair enough. My apologies, I didn't realise.

 

[NumberNine]

BS two of my residents have the galaxy 3 and they are constantly complaining about the battery life, telling me they have to turn off features in order for the phone to last all day!! I have the iPhone 5 and use it with all the feature constantly on and I can go two days of active use without a charge! In fact when I got my iPhone 5 one of my friends bought my iPhone4s for $200 to replace its his galaxy 3. Fact, he rather have last years iPhone rather than this years Samsung. If you go do a search check out the data for yourself
40% iPhone new users are people switching from Android. At first it seems like a dream you can get an iphone like device for 1/2 the price than they realize why. You get what you pay for as my friend said after he bought my iPhone 4s
"glad to get rid of that plastic junk"

It's not BS, it's my experience with the phone.

good for him, he traded it for thin aluminum junk...oh wait it has a chamfered edge

 

[Dave.UK]

Fair enough. My apologies, I didn't realise.

No worries

 

[dontpannic]

good for him, he traded it for thin aluminum junk...oh wait it has a chamfered edge

You've just proved that you shouldn't be commenting on this. The iPhone 4/4S is still widely recognised as the best designed and engineered device on the market - by many tech news outlets and experts.

 

[NumberNine]

You've just proved that you shouldn't be commenting on this. The iPhone 4/4S is still widely recognised as the best designed and engineered device on the market - by many tech news outlets and experts.

Oh I thought you said iPhone 5....he got a phone inside glass instead, nice little screen to boot.

If "experts" said it, it must be true

 

[dontpannic]

Oh I thought you said iPhone 5....he got a phone inside glass instead, nice little screen to boot.

If "experts" said it, it must be true

Which is still better built and feels better in the hand than a huge hollow plastic phone. So? This shouldn't be discussed here - but you're quite wrong to make a statement like that.

 

[AaronEdwards]

Ok, in this thread, stupid Android users are Android fault. Downloading pirated apps or not being careful about which apps they install, Android's fault.

On the other hand, in the thread about iOS users typing in passwords leading to their kids costing them $$$$$ through IAP, it's not Apple's fault. It's those darn stupid iOS users.

Got it.

 

[Oletros]

Ok, in this thread, stupid Android users are Android fault. Downloading pirated apps or not being careful about which apps they install, Android's fault.

On the other hand, in the thread about iOS users typing in passwords leading to their kids costing them $$$$$ through IAP, it's not Apple's fault. It's those darn stupid iOS users.

Got it.

And Flashback?

 

[dontpannic]

Ok, in this thread, stupid Android users are Android fault. Downloading pirated apps or not being careful about which apps they install, Android's fault.

On the other hand, in the thread about iOS users typing in passwords leading to their kids costing them $$$$$ through IAP, it's not Apple's fault. It's those darn stupid iOS users.

Got it.

Different situations of course, but wrong conclusions.

Both of those are down to user error - if a parent gives their kid a password to an account which is linked to their bank accounts, then that is stupid. Apple shouldn't have refunded the purchases - a goodwill gesture, maybe, but at the end of the day if you don't want your kids spending money in the app store, don't give them the password. That's what passwords are for.

 

[phillipduran]

sounds like an invitation to develop malware to attack iOS.

Don't you think people already looked into that? There is a huge pile of illegal cash to be made by getting malware onto iOS devices.

What's holding them up? It certainly isn't due to obscurity as has always been claimed about OSX. Only safe because no one uses it right?

iOS is just simply a more secure platform. Not invulnerable, but built to be secure and the numbers, the facts, prove this.

 

[chiefpavvy]

Security is the fastest growing sector in mobile. And it will only become more important. So it's reasonable to assess the overall security of a platform, and certainly an appropriate topic for discussion.

iOS is built on a "closed" foundation. The sandbox which is enforced between applications provides a greatly enhanced security at the expense of some features -- such as the ease of moving data and files between one application and another. Android OTOH has an "open" architecture, which means you have much more "freedom" to move things and configure and tweak. With that comes the expense (ever growing) of malware threats. It's the classic tug of war between privacy, security, and convenience. You can pick one.

Of course it is personal preference. Some prefer the "open" architecture. Others, like myself, are quite comfortable with the "closed" nature of iOS. So use what ever makes you happy, just be cognizant of the threats surrounding you and realize the strengths and weaknesses of the platform(s) you have chosen.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Blackberry's comeback has begun!

yes, in "Jurassic Berry" rated PG-13.

 

[phillipduran]

According to this graph, I should buy a BlackBerry.

I think this would be a case of security through obscurity

----------

I still don't understand how they could make Android from Linux and mess it up so badly as far as security is concerned.

They proudly proclaimed their root access.

How's it working out for them now?

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Let's stick with that analogy for a sec

iOS: A train/subway. You'll get where you want, but you'll have a lot less control along the way.

Android: Either a train/subway like iOS, or if you want, you can drive a car which gives you complete control.

Now comes the shocking statistic! People who drive cars get in 3820340320% more car accidents!!! OMG!! Android must be completely unsafe right? But wait...you could either drive responsibly so you're much less likely to get into an accident...or...I dunno...take the train?

This report is comparing apples to oranges in a huge way. They are also including in the report a lot of stuff that shouldn't be there.

Lets see an app store comparison across the board, Amazon, Google Play, Apple AppStore. The best part for you guys is i'm sure, without a doubt, Apple will still win so you can feel good about it for whatever weird reason you do. Weird since you know, you don't gain anything from your device's competition being worse, on the contrary, you lose.

I'm willing to bet that if it happens to you (get an Android virus, your personal data and identity stolen, etc.), you would think differently.

 

[phillipduran]

Not sure he wanted to do that.

Shows apple is joint 3rd spot. With windows and Blackberry looking good.

Windows and Blackberry? They have smartphones?

 

[chiefpavvy]

Don't you think people already looked into that? There is a huge pile of illegal cash to be made by getting malware onto iOS devices.

What's holding them up? It certainly isn't due to obscurity as has always been claimed about OSX. Only safe because no one uses it right?

iOS is just simply a more secure platform. Not invulnerable, but built to be secure and the numbers, the facts, prove this.

Precisely. But we must of course understand that it is a matter of degree. No system is invulnerable, every thing can be penetrated, it is a matter of to what degree, and the nature of the system can - to a great deal - make that minute or serious by the architecture itself.

You are correct that the "security through obscurity" thing will not hold up for iOS. There are hundreds of millions of iOS devices. It's not obscure by any means. And I am sure there are people pounding away on it, because getting something on that platform would be worth a lot of money. Just ask the ex-Jailbreak folks Apple has hired over the years.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Not sure he wanted to do that.

Shows apple is joint 3rd spot. With windows and Blackberry looking good.

Tied for third with two platforms that don't really have an app ecosystem to speak of.

 

[Oletros]

iOS is built on a "closed" foundation. The sandbox which is enforced between applications provides a greatly enhanced security at the expense of some features -- such as the ease of moving data and files between one application and another. Android OTOH has an "open" architecture, which means you have much more "freedom" to move things and configure and tweak. With that comes the expense (ever growing) of malware threats. It's the classic tug of war between privacy, security, and convenience. You can pick one.

No, it has nothing to do with that, by the way, Android applications are sandboxed.

 

[apolloa]

Don't know about anyone else but I just see this 'tweet' as a pathetic attempt at scare mongering slander, kind of sad Apple has gone to this level to try and gain those sales back from Android, is it utterly incapable of actually changing iOS and giving people what they want and something fresh? Obviously it is..