Mac and Android malware on the rise, reports show

Malware targeting macOS and Android devices has risen sharply in the last year, according to new research from security company Malwarebytes.

Detection rates of Android ransomware in particular has more than doubled over the course of a single quarter, rising by 137% from Q1 to Q2 2017, the study showed. Similarly, more Mac-based malware was detected in Q2 2017 than the whole of last year combined.

Malware on Android is hardly anything new Google's mobile operating system has been plagued by a series of successful, high-profile malware campaigns, including the Gooligan, Stagefright and Judy outbreaks.

The rise of malware targeting Macs has come as a shock to some, however. Apple computers have a reputation for being more secure than Windows machines, leading many to (incorrectly) dub them unhackable'.

"Mac threats are not taken seriously enough in the security community today," said Malwarebytes' director of Mac and mobile, Thomas Reed. "Adware and potentially unwanted programs are becoming a major problem for Mac users. Some very popular apps have been known to carry these threats and despite protections in place, the App Store is not immune to these threats."

"For example, the recent Proton Remote Access Trojan that plagued Mac users fooled many experienced, security-minded people who became infected. This perpetuates a crucial lesson that, despite what many Mac users think, they are not safe even if they are careful about what they download."

In order to combat these rising threats, Malwarebytes has today announced two new products - Malwarebytes for Mac and Malwarebytes for Android.

"Windows devices are no longer the sole victims of damaging malware attacks, as strategic attacks on Android devices are rapidly on the rise," said Armando Orozco, senior mobile malware intelligence analyst at Malwarebytes. "All Android users need to remain alert and proactively guard their identity and data on the go, just as they do on their computers at home."

Adam Shepherd

Adam Shepherd has been a technology journalist since 2015, covering everything from cloud storage and security, to smartphones and servers. Over the course of his career, he’s seen the spread of 5G, the growing ubiquity of wireless devices, and the start of the connected revolution. He’s also been to more trade shows and technology conferences than he cares to count.

Adam is an avid follower of the latest hardware innovations, and he is never happier than when tinkering with complex network configurations, or exploring a new Linux distro. He was also previously a co-host on the ITPro Podcast, where he was often found ranting about his love of strange gadgets, his disdain for Windows Mobile, and everything in between.

You can find Adam tweeting about enterprise technology (or more often bad jokes) @AdamShepherUK.