Android Malware and Ransomware Mostly Widely Used by Cybercriminals

Just about every day we are reminded how cybercriminals have put in late hours conjuring up the most aggressive technique to exploit computer users. According to the most recent McAfee Threat Report covering the first quarter of 2013, Android malware and ransomware is used the most out of all other threats by cybercriminals.

McAfee witnessed a 40 percent increase in Android malware and a steady rise in ransomware reported infections during the first quarter of 2013. In the latest Threat Report McAfee also reveals that AutoRun malware, commonly known to attack the Master Boot Records (MBRs) of infected systems, as another highlight to emerging malware threats alongside of common-placed spam.

The increasing rates of APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats), which is an umbrella platform for emerging Android malware and ransomware threats, has put us and other security teams in a bind with our hands full. You see, the exponentially rising rates of malware in general has every spooked but the thought of Android malware and ransomware making a grand entry this year alone has some backpedaling in their attempts to combat it.

In many backpedaling efforts, the war on Android malware looks to have never-ending carnage as the Android platform takes center stage when it dances among other mobile platforms. This is clearly demonstrated in the pie chart of total mobile malware by platform in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Total Mobile Malware by Platform Chart - Source: McAfee

So far, McAfee has collected a total of 50,926 mobile malware samples. Of those, a staggering 28 percent were collected in this year alone. To draw a comparison, McAfee collected only 792 samples during the whole year of 2011.

Android malware continues to draw a massive malware audience as a number of new threats break the horizon. On the other end of the spectrum, ransomware has served up a serious cocktail of threats and has its own spotlight right beside popular Android malware. Ransomware is known to extort money from computer users by disabling system functionality while returning a notification claiming to have detected illegal activity. The ransomware threat then asks that a fine be paid for the purported illegal activities.

Top 5 List of popularized Ransomware threats for Q1 2013

• Reveton
• Ukash Virus
• FBI Moneypak Ransomware
• ICE Cyber Crimes Center Ransomware
• You have 48 hours to pay the fine Ransomware

The growing number of new ransomware samples is taking off like a rocket ship as McAfee has collected more samples this year alone than in all of any previous year quarters, and the data for this year is just for Q1 2013. The chart below in Figure 2 demonstrates how Q1 2013 has already surpassed each quarter of 2012 while allowing you to contrast previous years.

Figure 2. Ransomware Sample Collection Rates Chart - Source: McAfee

Across the board, McAfee shows in their Q1 2013 report how other threats continue to rise with the top-ranking Android malware and ransomware. Falling in line with the top emerging threats are spam volumes, which piggyback off of growing social networks to spread.

As the malware war continues to claim additional victims at new unprecedented rates, we are required to fight back just as hard for the good of all computer users in this never-ending front-line battle.