McAfee: Malware targeting Android jumps 76 per cent

Cyber security report also finds 12 million unique malware samples in 2011 so far, up 22 per cent on 2010

The amount of malware targeting the Android mobile operating system has jumped 76 per cent since the first quarter of this year.

This is one of the findings of a new report from cyber security specialist McAfee, released today.

"This year we've seen record-breaking numbers of malware, especially on mobile devices, where the uptake is in direct correlation to popularity," said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee Labs.

"Overall attacks are becoming more stealthy and more sophisticated, suggesting that we could see attacks that remain unnoticed for longer periods of time. High-profile hacktivist groups have also changed the landscape by drawing a line between attacks for personal gain and attacks meant to send a message," Weafer added.

The report also states that McAfee has found 12 million unique malware samples in the first half of this year, a 22 per cent increase on 2010. The company expects to have 75 million unique malware samples in its database by the end of this year.

McAfee also points to an increase in cyber attacks on Apple's Mac operating system as it gains traction in the enterprise.

"There are more Mac users than ever before, and as organisations increasingly adopt Macs for business use, Apple now has become more of a target for malware authors."

Earlier this year malware was found to be infecting several Android apps, causing handsets to send text messages to premium rate numbers without the device owner's consent.

This followed closely on dozens of apps being found on the Android marketplace infected with the notorious DroidDream malware.