Lookout Mobile Security looking to scare you again about Android "malware"

Lookout Mobile Security has announced that it is predicting 18 million Android devices to be hit by "malware" next year. First of all, Android is expected to sell 600 million devices in 2013, which could very well put the total number of Android devices around 1 billion by the end of the year. Given that, 18 million devices being infected would only represent 1.8% of all devices being infected with some sort of malware. Second, "malware" is a blanket term that could mean anything from an "aggressive ad network" to an app that could legitimately steal information or harm your device, so even if you are in that 1.8%, only a proportion of you will even get infected with something malicious. 

Of course, the Lookout report does have one very good bit of info to keep in mind, which is a heat map of where users are most likely to be infected by malware (which is undoubtedly connected to how often people in those regions get apps outside of the Google Play Store.) Russia has the highest threat at a 34.7% chance of infection, while the US comes in at a 0.4% chance. Though, we were surprised to see the UK and Italy as spots with threat rates over 1%. 

So, as always, be careful with how and where you get your apps. If you live in an area where you can't rely on the Play Store, or in one of the other high risk areas, certainly try to protect yourself with software like Lookout. But, if you live in the US and exclusively use the Play Store, don't worry so much, and keep things in perspective. 

source: Lookout Mobile Security