Viruses are hooked to mobile

A bomb in his pocket. It's what we have become the smartphone as specialists and security firms gathered for the first time at the fair in Barcelona to discuss the dangers of mobile as a new source of scams and attacks. And his conclusion seems unanimous: Android is a real security loophole.

"Android is not that technologically worse, is simply a problem of neglect by Google. It has been necessary protective measures and above has the largest market share. The threat is real and serious, "says Rick Ferguson, research director at Trend Micro, who points out further that the malware on mobile phones has grown by 1,400% in recent months and could reach 130,000 malicious code at the end of 2012.

The last case occurred just this week in France, where police have arrested two suspected mobile Android 2,000 infected with the Trojan Foncy. SMS sending program without user authorization, a technique that criminals have pocketed more than 100,000 euros.

"People know they can not have a PC with no protection but that conviction has not reached the phone. And the danger is the same, almost no difference between a computer and a smartphone. Indeed, in the future there will be no home computers, tablets and mobile only. Android will be the main focus of attack at home, Windows will remain at the company, "says Eugene Kaspersky of Russia, founder of Kaspersky Labs

Between 2005 and 2010 were detected in less than 1,200 worldwide attacks of malware on mobile, but now that figure is well over a month. "It's an exponential growth," said Kaspersky. According to the firm, 75% of viruses on smartphones are discovered on Android devices. Then comes Symbian and Windows Phone. IOS barely on the map, despite having a market share below some Android.

Among the threats there are to choose from. It is possible to create a mobile infiltrate botnets and launch denial of service (DDoS) to knock down webs. Applications are another major focus. Just hide a virus in a game or a productivity program to infiltrate the mobile to download it. Once inside, the Trojan can divert banking transactions, made ​​with all the information stored on your computer (email, contacts, photos) or send SMS to numbers premium without your knowledge.

It is estimated that a cybercriminal can earn between 1,500 and 4,000 euros a day engaging phones. In Russia recently amassed over a million dollars in a scam SMS with Trojan Alphawap. Alarming figures, which flows into the eternal debate: if the problem is so bad, why even security firms generate business just to sell security software on the phone? Is it a real or inflated by the interests of the sector?

Chris DiBona, chief of free software programs from Google, is clear: "The security companies try to scare people to sell protection on Android, RIM or IOS. They are charlatans and swindlers, they should be ashamed of themselves, "recently wrote in with your Google Account +.

Ferguson, Trend Micro, adjusts her hair, tattoos and scratches take a laugh. "Google is the one who should be ashamed. The proof that Android is not safe Bouncer, your new system to monitor applications. Even works well, "he says.

It's true. Yago Jesus, security specialist, developed a few hours last week in a simple program with erotic pictures, he infiltrated a Trojan, hung it on the Android Market and, surprise, was published without problems. "If you descargabas it, the phone was completely at our mercy. We could access all content or even record your conversations remotely without you found out, "says Yago Jesus. Google took nearly 24 hours to remove. "That in IOS is more difficult to occur, is a very closed environment. Android is just the opposite. "

The use of social networks on the fly, messaging services like WhatsApp, which processes 2,000 million messages a day, or payment systems such as Google Wallet, turns the phone into a juicy target. Nigel Stanley, security analyst at Bloor Research believes the problem is huge. "The interest is emerging among the community of hackers to compromise mobile is worrisome, "he says.

Garlati Cesare, director of Trend Micro, also indicates that the threats on the phone very soon affect businesses. An added incentive for cybercriminals. "If confidential information on mobile phones and tablets is compromised, companies could lose millions. And that's happening, "he says.

Yago Jesus doubt that security firms to contain the problem, at least for now. "It's like a carpenter to put a glass melt, have no expertise in mobility, criminals are ahead," he says. Garlati nervous arms waving, to the Italian. "Nonsense, we already have many experts and ficharemos more. We are winning the war on the PC, we will win the mobile phone. "