Android Major CyberCrime Target: Warns Security Head

The flexibility of Google OS could be its downfall, the head of one of the largest IT security providers warned today.

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Although the open nature of Android platform has always been celebrated as its disctinct advantage, it also open the doors to cybercrme, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab, Eugene Kaspersky, told AusCERT IT conference today.
 
“The Android operating system is flexible and easily adapted, which makes it easy for software developers, as well as cyber criminals, to use, ” he warned.

Speaking at the Gold Coast event, Kaspersky also brought attention to the whole area of digital fraud and says we are now in the “golden age of cybercrime” and delivering his keynote address, Kaspersky said the “digital world is under attack.” And it appears he’s right.

Just recently, the Sony PlayStation online network was hacked by an unknown group and threat researcher Kevin Stevens claims the hackers could be intent on selling the captured data for large sums of money.

And Kaspersky isn’t the only security expert crying louder about unsecure online applicaitons.

Ty Miller, Chief Technology
Officer ofPure Hacking,  told ChannelNews last week that social networking sites
including Facebook frequently fall prey to “weak access controls” so it’s no surprise personal information leaks that hit the network last week occured.
 
“Cybercrime is low risk, low investment and high profit. It’s relatively easy to get started – all you need is a laptop and some knowledge.”

And it’s not just PC’s criminals are targeting. Smartphones and tablets are now also highly susceptible particularly Android’s.
 
Digital crime industry is now estimated to be worth $100 billion worldwide and the number of malware samples that appear on the web have dramatically increased: from five every two minutes to one every two seconds in the last three years.

So what can be done to counter the crims?  Advanced cloud security, which should become an industry standard.

“Innovation in securing cloud technologies is a quick solution to suppress the current global cybercrime threat,” Kaspersky believes.
 
Kaspersky’s Lab is the world’s largest privately anti-malware company.