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Adware accounts for 72% of all mobile malwarePRAGUE and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avast (LSE:AVST), a global leader in digital security products, has found that adware now accounts for the vast majority of Android mobile malware. Statistics gathered between October and December 2019 by Avast's Threat Lab experts show that adware was responsible for 72% of all mobile malware, and the remaining 28% consisted of banking trojans, fake apps, lockers, and downloaders. Mobile adware is software that hijacks a device in order to spam the user with unwanted ads. Avast's insights indicate that adware is a rising problem, with its share among all Android malware types having increased by 38% in the past year alone. Adware often disguises itself in the form of gaming and entertainment apps, or other app types that are trending and therefore are interesting targets with a high potential to spread far. These apps may appear harmless, but once they've infected a device they will surreptitiously click on ads in the background. Sometimes, adware also serves ads with malicious content. There are two main types of adware: adware apps, which cause distraction and annoyance; and ad-fraud/ad-clickers, a more malicious type of adware: Adware apps: These are often gaming, photo or other lifestyle applications that appear benign after installation, but once opened, start spamming the user with ads. Occasionally this form of adware will start spamming the user with ads outside the application, making it difficult for the user to pinpoint where the ads are coming from.
Commenting on the findings, Nikolaos Chrysaidos, Head of Mobile Threat Intelligence & Security at Avast said: "No one likes getting served with incessant ads; they're often unwanted and can ruin our enjoyment of an app. They could also pose a threat to users as cybercriminals can use them as a backdoor to a device – whether it's to make money from advertisers or steal your personal information. We've been tracking this issue for a number of years and the increased use of mobile devices is likely fueling its growth." Following these simple tips can help prevent mobile adware attacks:
About Avast: Avast (LSE: AVST) is a global leader in digital security products. With over 400 million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs, and others. Visit: www.avast.com. Media Contact: [email protected]
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