Avast Sees 40 Percent Uptick In Hacks Targeted At Android Devices

Digital security products company Avast announced new research Monday (Sept. 11) that shows an increase in the number of cyberattacks on Android smartphones and tablets.

According to a press release highlighting results of the new research, Avast announced nearly 40 percent of devices were targeted in the second quarter of this year compared to the same time frame last year. In response to the uptick in attacks being directed at Android devices, Avast noted it had updated its Avast Mobile Security & AntiVirus and AVG AntiVirus mobile apps. With the updates, the company is combining each brand’s mobile antivirus threat detection technology into one engine.

Avast said the app now allows users to protect photos and personal data with additional security layers, as well as boost their phones’ battery life. The updated AVG app provides enhanced protection for smartphone owners from theft, privacy intrusion through apps that over-collect data and from unwanted calls.

“Mobile cybersecurity attacks are growing rapidly as hackers’ strategies become more agile and dangerous, and what’s at stake is mostly the user’s personal data and privacy,” said Gagan Singh, senior vice president and general manager of mobile and IoT at Avast, said in the press release. “We constantly update our mobile security solutions to address new threats by leveraging powerful AI and machine learning technologies in combination with the world’s largest threat detection network to make it easy for consumers to stay secure online. Since users carry their most valuable data around with their smartphones, we also focus on strong features protecting their privacy, securing their device and data, while providing convenience.”

The new research revealed an average of 1.7 million attacks on Android devices happening each month, up from 1.2 million in last year’s second quarter. What’s more, researchers have identified an average of 788 variations of viruses per month, up 22.2 percent from a year ago. The findings show the top three mobile threats are designed to spy and steal personal information and to spam users with ads, even outside of the app.