A collaboration has formed between BlackBerry and Trend Micro in an effort to strengthen endpoint security in the mobile era. The two companies will launch an initiative to crack down on rogue mobile applications and malware, two things that are poised to be a much bigger problem than many individuals think over the next year. BlackBerry will work to incorporate Trend Micro’s Mobile App Reputation with its own system for analyzing applications.
“With this, both new and existing mobile applications on the BlackBerry World application store will be scanned for potentially malicious behavior, thus adding an extra layer of security between the malware writers and the end mobile users,” according to a post on ZDNet. “With this, both new and existing mobile applications on the BlackBerry World application store will be scanned for potentially malicious behavior, thus adding an extra layer of security between the malware writers and the end mobile users.”
Adrian Stone, director of security response and threat analysis at BlackBerry, said that the companies want to address privacy and security concern of these third-party apps with this new teaming. Kevin Simzer, vice president of corporate development and alliances at Trend Micro, said the increasing volume of malware and high-risk apps means that cybercriminals are more active in trying to target and attack mobile endpoints. With this in mind, mobile security must be fortified across the board in an effort to slow down the negative effects of this type of malicious software.
Trend Micro has scanned more than 2 million mobile applications with its technology. In concert with BlackBerry, the companies want to be sure that URLs, emails, files and applications are continuously updated and in line with current threat libraries. This way, any new threat that comes to light can be immediately stomped out and will not negatively affect users.
Mobile malware hits high water mark
This duo comes together after Trend Micro made predictions for 2013 which show that the threat of malware on non-PC devices is larger than ever. Android will take the brunt of the malicious software, according to the company, as it will see more than 1 million pieces of malware in the new year, but it is important for all devices to be as protected as possible.
“2012 showed that malware writers, spammers, and hackers have begun to capitalize upon the mobile market, with a particularly keen eye for attacking the Android platform,” ZDNet said about the predictions for the new year. “Not only does Google-owned Android have the greatest market share, therefore making it an easier target, it also has a more open platform to work with, compared to Windows Phone or the iOS-based platforms.”
Other key takeaways from this report:
– Malware for Android saw a growth in 2012 with about 350,000 threats detected, a growth ratio of 14:3 for Android versus PC.
– Java is still dangerous, especially for Apple iOS devices, as the company said it puts these devices in the “crosshairs of malware”
– Social media is a big reason why threats are looming large, as cybercriminals are able to easily pick and choose targets through websites like Facebook and Twitter
– Attacks are starting to become smarter and using professional development to improve their malicious programs
Avoiding mobile malware
TechTarget gave a few pieces of advice for users to avoid mobile malware on their handheld devices. People should make sure their host systems are syncing to devices in a way that is protected, have extra features such as Bluetooth disabled when on a company network, do not let the device automatically discover Wi-Fi networks and never click on links that are unknown.
“While it may seem a bit obvious, need to educate our users that, just as they should not click on every attachment sent to their PC email inbox, they should view unsolicited messages and software on PDAs and phones with suspicion,” the website said. “The malware released to date for phones and PDAs requires help from the victim in order to spread. No help, no virus.”
Consumerization News from SimplySecurity.com by Trend Micro.
