631,000 threats detected on Android devices in Q2 2018

Drawing attention to the scale of cybersecurity challenge that India currently faces, leading IT security solutions provider Quick Heal Technologies has released the Quick Heal Quarterly Threat Report Q2 2018. As per the report, more than 631,000 threats were detected on Android devices of individuals and enterprise users across India between April and June 2018.

On a daily basis, Quick Heal detected more than 2,000 malware, 3,000 potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), and 1,000 adware. The top ten Android malware of Q2 2018 include Android.Smsreg.DA, Android.Airpush.J, and Android.Guerrilla.M, amongst others, which were propagated through third-party app stores. The PUA family comprised 46.2% of the total detections in the year. All security incidents were successfully resolved by Quick Heal.

What makes the latest Quick Heal data all the more alarming is the low awareness about the need for adequate security amongst mobile users. Most users install advance security software on their laptops and desktops, but often neglect their mobile devices. This leaves a major gap in their overall security posture and presents a lucrative opportunity to cybercriminals. The increase in the number of mobile-based threats such as Banking Trojan and cryptomining attacks is indicative of a growing shift towards exploiting vulnerable mobile devices to compromise sensitive personal information of mobile users.

Speaking on the data, Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer – Quick Heal Technologies, said, “While a growing number of people are now installing state-of-the-art security solutions on larger devices such as desktops and laptops, they often do not take mobile threats seriously. This is a major security loophole. Smartphones hold a lot of personal and financial information and are increasingly being used to transact online. They are also being used in BYOD-led workplaces to handle sensitive business data. The failure to install adequate mobile security puts all of this data at risk. This massive cybersecurity gap is what we are aiming to draw attention to with our latest Quarterly Threat Report.”

According to data from the Quick Heal report, the number of cryptomining malware hits in Q2 increased as compared to Q1. The report also highlighted the growing threat of Banking Trojans, which imitate popular social and banking apps used in India to gain access to security permissions on infected devices and steal users’ banking credentials.

The report was compiled by security experts at Quick Heal Security Labs, the threat research and response division of Quick Heal Technologies, which analysed security data from millions of devices protected by the brand’s wide range of offerings. The report clearly concludes that time, technology, and digital threats wait for none in today’s world of uncertainties.