Commtouch Q4 Internet Threats Trend Report Shows Exponential Increase in Android Malware
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:21:01 AM
Commtouch Q4 Internet Threats Trend Report Shows Exponential Increase in Android Malware
Commtouch's Internet Threat Analysis Team analyses current trends regarding spam, malware, Web and mobile security
MCLEAN, Virginia and SAN FRANCISCO, February 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Android malware and Web threats targeting mobile users have exponentially increased
during the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the February 2013 Internet Threats Trend
Report issued by Commtouch(R) (NASDAQ: CTCH), a leading provider of Internet security
technology and cloud-based services.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/529254 )
The report shows that Android malware levels increased more than five-fold between
September and December 2012. In December, Commtouch's lab collected more than 214,000
samples of Android malware, compared to approximately 41,000 in September. In July, the
number was still as low as 14,000 samples. Additionally, Commtouch researchers also
observed a significant increase in email-borne malware during the fourth quarter of 2012.
India remained the number one hotspot for spam-sending zombies in the fourth quarter.
With a share of 17.5 percent, India fell below the 20 percent mark but remained ahead of
China (9.5 percent) and Vietnam (8.0 percent). Asia remained the dominating region in this
list with Pakistan (fifth place), Iran (sixth) and Kazakhstan (tenth) also being among the
top ten. The United States came in eighth place with a share of 2.7 percent.
In Web security, education-related sites topped the list of sites most frequently
compromised with malware or hiding phishing and spam sites. For example, during the fourth
quarter, Harvard University's Department of Government Web site was hacked and used to
host a pharmacy page. Other Web site categories particularly vulnerable to being
manipulated were travel, sports, business and entertainment sites.
Spam levels remained fairly constant with the expected drop around the Christmas and
New Year period. The average daily spam level was 90 billion messages per day - a slight
increase over the third quarter of 2012. The lowest level was 52 billion recorded on the
last day of 2012 and the highest was an unusual spike of 134 billion at the start of
December. Spam averaged between 71 and 80 percent of all emails sent globally during the
fourth quarter of 2012.
"Android is by far the most popular mobile operating system in the world today, with a
market share of more than 75 percent in the third quarter, according to industry
analysts," said Avi Turiel, director of threat research and market analysis at Commtouch.
"Its popularity makes it a natural target for cybercriminals of all kinds. The alarming
growth rate also demonstrates that the Android platform is still regarded as an easy
target. Effective protective measures are urgently needed. With its Mobile Security for
Android, Commtouch offers a solution that combines antivirus and Web Security and can be
integrated into offerings from carriers, MDM providers, device manufacturers and
application developers."
Commtouch's Internet Threat Analysis Team regularly publishes related statistics
within its report. The quarterly report is compiled based on a comprehensive analysis of
billions of daily transactions handled by Commtouch's GlobalView(TM) Cloud
[http://www.commtouch.com/cloud ].
To view the Commtouch Q4 Internet Threats Trend Report, visit:
http://www.commtouch.com/threat-report-feb-2013
About Commtouch
Commtouch(R) (NASDAQ: CTCH) is a leading provider of Internet security technology and
cloud-based services for vendors and service providers, increasing the value and
profitability of our customer's solutions by protecting billions of Internet transactions
on a daily basis. With six global data centers and award-winning, patented technology,
Commtouch's email, web, and antivirus capabilities easily integrate into our customers'
products and solutions, keeping safe over 350 million end users. To learn more, visit
http://www.commtouch.com.
- Blog: http://blog.commtouch.com/cafe
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/commtouch
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/commtouch
- Twitter: @Commtouch
Recurrent Pattern Detection, RPD, Zero-Hour and GlobalView are trademarks, and
Commtouch is a registered trademark of Commtouch. U.S. Patent No. 6,330,590 is owned by
Commtouch. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Company Contact:
Brian Briggs, Chief Financial Officer
Commtouch
+1-703-760-3444
brian.briggs@commtouch.com
U.S. Investor Contact:
Christopher Chu
Grayling
+1-646-284-9400
commtouch@grayling.com
Israel Investor Relations Contact:
Iris Lubitch
EffectiveIR
+972-3-5664007
Iris@EffectiveIR.co.il
Commtouch Media Contact:
Matthew Zintel
Zintel Public Relations
+1-281-444-1590
matthew.zintel@zintelpr.com
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/529254
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/529254
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Commtouch
Commtouch's Internet Threat Analysis Team analyses current trends regarding spam, malware, Web and mobile security
MCLEAN, Virginia and SAN FRANCISCO, February 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Android malware and Web threats targeting mobile users have exponentially increased
during the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the February 2013 Internet Threats Trend
Report issued by Commtouch(R) (NASDAQ: CTCH), a leading provider of Internet security
technology and cloud-based services.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/529254 )
The report shows that Android malware levels increased more than five-fold between
September and December 2012. In December, Commtouch's lab collected more than 214,000
samples of Android malware, compared to approximately 41,000 in September. In July, the
number was still as low as 14,000 samples. Additionally, Commtouch researchers also
observed a significant increase in email-borne malware during the fourth quarter of 2012.
India remained the number one hotspot for spam-sending zombies in the fourth quarter.
With a share of 17.5 percent, India fell below the 20 percent mark but remained ahead of
China (9.5 percent) and Vietnam (8.0 percent). Asia remained the dominating region in this
list with Pakistan (fifth place), Iran (sixth) and Kazakhstan (tenth) also being among the
top ten. The United States came in eighth place with a share of 2.7 percent.
In Web security, education-related sites topped the list of sites most frequently
compromised with malware or hiding phishing and spam sites. For example, during the fourth
quarter, Harvard University's Department of Government Web site was hacked and used to
host a pharmacy page. Other Web site categories particularly vulnerable to being
manipulated were travel, sports, business and entertainment sites.
Spam levels remained fairly constant with the expected drop around the Christmas and
New Year period. The average daily spam level was 90 billion messages per day - a slight
increase over the third quarter of 2012. The lowest level was 52 billion recorded on the
last day of 2012 and the highest was an unusual spike of 134 billion at the start of
December. Spam averaged between 71 and 80 percent of all emails sent globally during the
fourth quarter of 2012.
"Android is by far the most popular mobile operating system in the world today, with a
market share of more than 75 percent in the third quarter, according to industry
analysts," said Avi Turiel, director of threat research and market analysis at Commtouch.
"Its popularity makes it a natural target for cybercriminals of all kinds. The alarming
growth rate also demonstrates that the Android platform is still regarded as an easy
target. Effective protective measures are urgently needed. With its Mobile Security for
Android, Commtouch offers a solution that combines antivirus and Web Security and can be
integrated into offerings from carriers, MDM providers, device manufacturers and
application developers."
Commtouch's Internet Threat Analysis Team regularly publishes related statistics
within its report. The quarterly report is compiled based on a comprehensive analysis of
billions of daily transactions handled by Commtouch's GlobalView(TM) Cloud
[http://www.commtouch.com/cloud ].
To view the Commtouch Q4 Internet Threats Trend Report, visit:
http://www.commtouch.com/threat-report-feb-2013
About Commtouch
Commtouch(R) (NASDAQ: CTCH) is a leading provider of Internet security technology and
cloud-based services for vendors and service providers, increasing the value and
profitability of our customer's solutions by protecting billions of Internet transactions
on a daily basis. With six global data centers and award-winning, patented technology,
Commtouch's email, web, and antivirus capabilities easily integrate into our customers'
products and solutions, keeping safe over 350 million end users. To learn more, visit
http://www.commtouch.com.
- Blog: http://blog.commtouch.com/cafe
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/commtouch
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/commtouch
- Twitter: @Commtouch
Recurrent Pattern Detection, RPD, Zero-Hour and GlobalView are trademarks, and
Commtouch is a registered trademark of Commtouch. U.S. Patent No. 6,330,590 is owned by
Commtouch. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Company Contact:
Brian Briggs, Chief Financial Officer
Commtouch
+1-703-760-3444
brian.briggs@commtouch.com
U.S. Investor Contact:
Christopher Chu
Grayling
+1-646-284-9400
commtouch@grayling.com
Israel Investor Relations Contact:
Iris Lubitch
EffectiveIR
+972-3-5664007
Iris@EffectiveIR.co.il
Commtouch Media Contact:
Matthew Zintel
Zintel Public Relations
+1-281-444-1590
matthew.zintel@zintelpr.com
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/529254
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/529254
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Commtouch