AntiVirus FREE for Android Surpasses 70 Million Downloads

Smartphone security is a potential area for growth for computer security companies. AVG Technologies, makers of the free desktop computer anti-virus software, revealed that the AVG AntiVirus FREE for Android has surpassed the 70 million download mark on Google Play. This is the first time any security application has achieved this.

“AVG was the first company to provide a free security app for Android devices on the Android market now available on Google Play,” said David Ferguson, general manager, Consumer and Mobile at AVG Technologies. “In such a constantly changing industry, reaching this important milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team to continually innovate and secure consumers’ rapid adoption of Android mobile devices.”

The first-known cell phone virus, Cabir, appeared in 2004 but it was essentially harmless and developed to prove that phones could be infected. The large variety of operating systems in the cell phone world is an obstacle to mass infection. Since virus developers rely on a common baseline existing between their targets, they can only affect a small percentage at a time. Unlike desktop computers, which have a high Windows-level market share to target, cell phone viruses at present can't spread very far and they don't do much damage, but the future might see cell phone bugs that are as debilitating as computer viruses. As users demand more features, such as mobile banking, the higher the threat becomes. Cell phone viruses can be as harmful as stealing personal information for identity theft, expensive phone calls, or stealing passwords. Yet why take that chance and be one of the few?

Today users can protect themselves in a variety of ways. 

1. Install virus protection if available.
2. Turnoff Bluetooth discovery mode.
3. Do not hack or tamper with your phone. Some users will hack or modify the software on their phone in order to gain greater control over the device, but doing so opens the phone to a greater chance of viruses.
4. Do not download apps from unknown sources. There are phones that allow users to load applications from sites other than well-known app stores such as Google Play. This feature is called “sideloading” and is great for homegrown applications and encourages developers, but it can also be a vector for an attack.

For more information on cell phones and cell phone viruses, check out these links.