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Friday, 19.04.2024, 05:55
Nokia malware report reveals new all-time high in mobile device infections and major IoT device security vulnerabilities
Issued twice per year, the Nokia Threat Intelligence Report
examines general trends and statistics for infections in devices connected
through mobile and fixed networks around the world.
The latest report revealed a steady increase in mobile
device infections throughout 2016, with malware striking 1.35% of all mobile
devices in October - the highest level seen since reporting started in 2012.
The report also revealed a surge of nearly 400 % in smartphone malware attacks in 2016. Smartphones
were the most-targeted devices in the second half of the year, accounting for
85% of all mobile device infections.
While
Android(TM)-based smartphones and tablets continued to be the primary targets,
reflecting the prevalence of the operating system worldwide, iOS-based
devices also suffered attacks in the second half of the year, primarily by
Spyphone surveillance software that tracks users' calls, text messages, social
media applications, web searches, GPS locations and other activities.
The Threat Intelligence Report also exposed major
vulnerabilities in the rapidly expanding universe of IoT devices, underscoring
the need for the industry to re-evaluate its IoT deployment strategies to
ensure these devices are securely configured, managed and monitored.
Kevin
McNamee, head of the Nokia Threat
Intelligence Lab, said: "The security
of IoT devices has become a major concern. The Mirai botnet attacks last year
demonstrated how thousands of unsecured IoT devices could easily be hijacked to
launch crippling DDoS attacks. As the number and types of IoT devices continue
to proliferate, the risks will only increase. Nokia's network-based security
can help address this growing threat by detecting activity before a DDoS
attack occurs, enabling service providers to take corrective actions that
mitigate the impact."
Key findings of the latest Nokia Threat Intelligence Report
include:
- Mobile
device infection rate continues to climb: The overall infection
rate increased 63% in the second half of 2016, compared to the first half
of the year.
- New
all-time high: The mobile device infection rate rose steadily
throughout 2016, reaching 1.35% in October (vs. 1.06% in April 2016) - the
highest level recorded since the study started in 2012.
- Smartphones
the top target: Smartphones were the top malware targets by far,
accounting for 85% of all mobile device infections in the second half of
2016. Smartphone infections increased 83% during this period compared to the
first half of the year (0.90% vs 0.49%), and increased nearly 400 % in
2016.
- Major
IoT device vulnerabilities: In late 2016, the Mirai botnet
assembled an army of compromised IoT devices to launch three of the
largest DDoS attacks in history, including an assault that took down many
high-profile web services. These attacks underscored the urgent
requirement for more robust security capabilities to protect IoT devices
from future attacks and exploitation.
- Malware
seeks a bite out of Apple: Android-based devices continue to be
the primary target for malware attacks (81%). However, iOS and other
mobile devices were also targeted in the second half of the year (4%).
- Decrease
in Windows/PC infections: Windows/PC systems accounted for 15% of
malware infections in the second half of 2016, down from 22% in the first
half of the year.
- Fixed
network infections continue decline: The monthly infection rate
in residential fixed broadband networks averaged 10.7 % in the second half
of 2016, down from 12% in the first half, and down from 11% in late 2015.
While moderate threat level adware activity decreased in the second half
of 2016, high-level threats (e.g., bots, rootkits, keyloggers and banking
Trojans) remained steady at approximately six %.
The Nokia Threat Intelligence Report aggregates data from
deployments of the Nokia
NetGuard Endpoint Security (NES) network-based anti-malware solution.
NES analyzes traffic patterns from within service provider networks for
evidence of malware infections in more than 100 million devices worldwide,
including mobile phones, laptops, notepads and a broad range of IoT devices.