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McAfee: Smartphones, Apple devices to be top malware targets in 2011

Mac trojans have already become increasingly common in 2010
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So, if there is one new trojan like the article says, does that mean it's common? I haven't even heard about it and I'm sure it would have been noted by MR if it was something serious. Trojans aren't even that bad, any user with brains can avoid them, just don't install anything from suspicious sites.

McAfee makes anti-malware software, thus they want to feed us with this BS so people would spend money on their useless products. They are just afraid of losing sales because people don't use Windows that much anymore, thus there is less need for anti-malware software.

Anti-malware software is often worse than any virus, it runs there 24/7 hogging resources and what is even worse, they make you pay for it! :eek:
 
Hellhammer said:
Anti-malware software is often worse than any virus, it runs there 24/7 hogging resources and what is even worse, they make you pay for it! :eek:
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Yeah, together with Norton, Mcafee really clogs systems down and slow them to a crawl. It's typical of these companies to spread these stories to scare people into buying their software, like you said.

As more people are buying iDevices there probably will be more security vulnerabilities, because there's more people using them like with Windows. It's bound to happen.
 
R94N said:
As more people are buying iDevices there probably will be more security vulnerabilities, because there's more people using them like with Windows. It's bound to happen.
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But the positive thing is, Apple won't approve an anti-malware app to their App Store ;):D Or at least I would be VERY surprised if they did
 
I do hope apple allows AV companies to rip threw the back ups made on desktops for malware and then scan the device connected to the computer. At least that way it is somewhat protected and able to be scanned with out the phones limited processing power being used.

Also they are right on the fact that they are started to targeted phones with malware. A lot of people use them and do not think they will be in trouble with what they install. It already been shown that Apple does not look to closely at things put in the app store so malware could easily be hidden in some apps. Also another example is how web jail breaking was down on 4.0. It took apple a long time to fix that and during that time it could easily of been exploited by less ethical people.

Also they are right that the iOS will be heavily targeted for malware since it has the largest user based of idiots compared to the others. Idiots being people who really do not have a clue how things are done on the phone and just want it to work. Android has more geeks that know what they are messing around with and so therefor less likely to put something on their phone that they shouldn't or surf on the web were they shouldn't.
 
Yawn. And how do we suppose you get a malware on a phone where you can only download anything significant through a moderated app store?

Jailbreak? :rolleyes:
 
MacDawg said:
What a surprise
A security company fear-mongering about malware concerns that don't exist
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+1. They try this about once a year. There have also been people who deliberately wrote some malware just to prove you can, and the headlines get pushed out by security companies.

Is malware a real problem now? No.

With both iOS and Android, a lot of times what looks like malware really isn't.... it's either junior developers leaving in sample code, or ad-supported apps using supplied ad code that transmits info about you.

Will malware be a problem? Yes, I'm afraid that unfortunately the new popularity of smartphones makes it almost inevitable. If I were a crook, I'd certainly see it as an easy path, even if I had to register on stores under a bunch of names.

roadbloc said:
Yawn. And how do we suppose you get a malware on a phone where you can only download anything significant through a moderated app store? Jailbreak? :rolleyes:
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A moderated store only helps as much as it is moderated. In Apple's case, that means checking for copyright and API violations, not secret transmissions that could be set to start weeks or months later.

The best malware check will always be third party groups that tear into apps and/or do their own check on them. Android makes this a bit easier by requiring public permissions... so, say, a tip calculator that asks for permission to access Contacts can be further investigated.
 
R94N said:
Yeah, together with Norton, Mcafee really clogs systems down and slow them to a crawl. It's typical of these companies to spread these stories to scare people into buying their software, like you said.

As more people are buying iDevices there probably will be more security vulnerabilities, because there's more people using them like with Windows. It's bound to happen.
Click to expand...

That's why you stick to Avast! or Nod32...:D;)

That aside, jailbreak and I think the community will take care of you. After all, the jailbreak community usually patches *huge* exploits of the iPhone OS looooooong before Apple does. To name a few, see: pdf_stack_overflow exploit and TIFF_image exploit.
 
Is this the same company that pushed out an update to their enterprise customers that left thousands of computers blue screening? They should focus more on making sure their products don't destroy computers instead of viruses :eek:

Sure the explosive growth of the smartphone means it may get more of a look by virus writers, but apple's locked down policies may protect them more then other platforms
 
This is going to be a major problem on Android phones, and the occasional trojan will probably sneak through the gates of the App Store from time to time. Watch and see.

Android devices are going to look a lot less attractive once a couple of truly damaging trojans make their way to the marketplace.
 
Reminds of cigerate companies claiming "Smoking is Good For You"!

Of course, malware not quite being nearly as lethal.


Well, of course Anti Virus companies are going to go on a FUD campaign they need to drum up customers!

netdog said:
This is going to be a major problem on Android phones, and the occasional trojan will probably sneak through the gates of the App Store from time to time. Watch and see.

Android devices are going to look a lot less attractive once a couple of truly damaging trojans make their way to the marketplace.
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I don't think people really care.. we can see this from windows. You can steal information easily from windows and upload. ( Actually, its quite easy on OSX too.... the vast amount of users will click 'Yes' when prompted for keychain permissions without a second thought ).
 
Hellhammer said:
McAfee makes anti-malware software, thus they want to feed us with this BS so people would spend money on their useless products. They are just afraid of losing sales because people don't use Windows that much anymore, thus there is less need for anti-malware software.
Click to expand...

I wonder there is same person who makes both viruses and anti-viruses :D

There comes a virus, lots of talk about the virus, emails, articles, news and then comes anti-virus update to fix the virus LOL
 
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