Android smartphones and tablets are under attack, and the most popular tools developed to protect them are easily circumvented, according to new research from Northwestern University and the University of North Carolina.
The researchers created technology called DroidChamelon that can be used to perform common obfuscation techniques (simple switches in a virus’ binary code or file name, for instance) to blow by security products. It tested DroidChamelon with products from the likes of AVG, Kaspersky, ESET, Symantec and Webroot.
Details about the research can be seen in a paper titled Evaluating Android Anti-Malware Against Transformation Attacks.
The products’ downfall was due to their use of overly simple content-based signatures, said researchers, who recommended more widespread use of static analysis to sniff out transformed viruses. Though the good news is that last year 45% of signatures could be evaded easily, whereas only 16% could be this time around.
Attackers are going after Android because it is so widely used. Kaspersky estimated more than 94% of all mobile malware targets Android.
Even so, the researchers at Northwestern and NC State emphasised that other mobile OSs are all aren’t necessarily any more protected from virus attacks. The researchers just didn’t test them.
Recent research from the Pew institue found that 56% of American adults now own a smartphone with Android proving the most popular operating system with 28% of the entire market.
IDG News Service
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