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Google Android malware up sensationally by 800%, Windows 80%: Quick Heal

Windows and Google Android malware tops in the latest malware report by Quick Heal Technologies.

Windows and Google Android malware tops in the latest annual Windows Malware report by Quick Heal Technologies.

Windows malware increased by 80 percent and Android malware zoomed by 800 percent in 2013 compared to last year, the report revealed. Among them, Windows saw 40 percent new and unique malware in 2013.

Trojans dominated the total malware detections with 77 percent while bots and backdoors had 15 percent share. The CryptoLocker botnet attacks were the highlight in 2013 and were main culprit in ransomware to extort money from users.

The report found a new online fraud breed of Watering Hole attacks, which breaks the systems to make way for attacker to carry out a host of activities such as emails, stored data access, stealing username, password or installing key loggers.

Compared to Windows, the Google Android malware made a mark in 2013 with 800 percent rise.

Quick Heal’s research and development lab detected in total 431397 last year. Attackers are quickly adapting to a mobile-friendly eco-system, security in App stores still is a cause for concern and user data leakages through malicious apps still continues, the report stated.

?It is difficult to scrunch the extent and depth of cyber attacks that are reported by our research and development lab. Our report is a comprehensive coverage of the most predominant attacks that were observed in 2013 and covers the Windows and Android platforms. As researchers, it is also part of our duty to incorporate trends to look out for in 2014,? said Sanjay Katkar, Technical Director and CTO, Quick Heal Technologies.

According to Katkar, windows XP still has about 30 percent market share and with Microsoft about to withdraw support for the second most popular operating system in April 2014, the unpatched machines will represent a serious danger to the security of the networks that they are connected to and the internet in general.

?This might also lead to an increase in advanced persistent threats (APT). But, windows is not the only thing in focus in 2014, Apple Mac and iOS are platforms that are gaining popularity and that will also lure attackers, ? added Katkar.

Further the report pointed to trends in 2014 that included threats from unpatched systems to zero day attacks with near end of windows XP and office 2013 support, social engineering, malware, spam and phishing attacks, industrial espionage via APTs, rasomeware and others.

Beside, the Apple Mac and iOS along with internet of things (IoT) are the new avenues for attackers, report revealed.

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First published on: 14-03-2014 at 12:48 IST
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