LOGIN
REGISTER
NEWSLETTER
RSS
SOFTWARE INDUSTRY NEWS |
Kaspersky detects first SMS Trojan for smartphones running Android |
|
|
Kaspersky Lab has announced the detection of the first malicious program classified as a Trojan-SMS for smartphones running on Google’s Android operating system.  Named Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a, it has already infected a number of mobile devices, Kaspersky said. The new malicious program penetrates smart phones running Android in the guise of a harmless media player application. Users are prompted to install a file of just over 13 KB with the standard Android extension .APK. Once installed, the Trojan uses the system to commence sending SMSs to premium rate numbers without the owner’s knowledge or consent, resulting in money passing from a user’s account to that of the cybercriminals.The Trojan-SMS category is currently the most widespread class of malware for mobile phones, Kaspersky said, but Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a is the first to specifically target the Android platform. Notably, Kaspersky points out, there have been isolated cases of devices running Android being infected with spyware, with the first such program having appeared in 2009. “The IT market research and analysis organization IDC has noted that those selling devices running Android are experiencing the highest growth in sales among smart phone manufacturers. As a result, we can expect to see a corresponding rise in the amount of malware targeting that platform,” says Denis Maslennikov, Mobile Research Group Manager at Kaspersky Lab. Kaspersky Lab is developing protection for the Android operating system and has plans to release Kaspersky Mobile Security for Android sometime in early 2011, the company said in a statement. For the interim, the company advises users to pay close attention to the services an application requests access to during installation, such as premium rate services that charge to send SMSs and make calls. When a user agrees to these functions during installation, the smart phone application may thereafter be able to make calls and send SMSs without further authorization. Kaspersky said it has added the signature for Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a to its antivirus databases. |
LISTS AND RESEARCH
-
Global Software Top 100 - Edition 2011
- The Global Software Top 100 is a list of the world's largest software companies, ranked by annual software revenues. The list is based upon revenue information of 10,000+ IT companies worldwide.
-
Software industry trends (2011)
- This research article (accompanying the Global Software Top 100) describes changes in the software industry playing field. It analyses trends and key players and forecasts future developments.
- Top hardware companies
- A list of the world's largest hardware companies.
- What happens in the hardware industry?
- Trends and analysis of the hardware industry and its key players.
- Top IT services companies
- A list of the world's largest IT services companies, ranked by annual services revenues. This link will take you to www.servicestop100.org.
- IT services companies: healthy growth
- What is happening in the IT services industry? Read this research publication to find out about trends and key players in the IT services industry.
- Top gaming companies (2010)
- Entertainment is good business, and gaming software companies are growing faster than the rest of the software industry. This research article discusses trends and key players in the gaming business.
- Top ERP companies
- A research publication about the world's leading players in enterprise software.
- Top security software companies
- A research publication discussing the world's leading publishers of security software: antivirus-, spamfiltering-, intrusion detection- and firewall software.
- The fastest growing software companies
- This research publication reveals the fastest growing software companies in the world.
-
CRM companies: a short list
- A short list of the leading software companies selling Customer Relationship Management software; aimed at IT managers looking to purchase CRM software.
- Top software companies in the US (2010)
- A list of the largest software companies in the United States, ranked by annual software revenues. 2010 Edition, posted 15 December 2010.
- U.S. software industry trends (2010)
- A research publication discussing the trends and the key players in the software industry in the United States. Posted 15 December 2010.
- Top companies in the world (not just software)
- A general list of the largest companies in the world, ranked by revenues. Not just software companies; in fact, there are no software companies in it...
- Top IT companies
- A list of the largest IT companies in the world, ranked by annual revenues. Includes hardware, software and services.
