Which Phone OS Is Best?

Which Phone OS Is Best?

Android under assault as hacker attacks on phones go up 472 per cent in four months
By Daniel Bates
'Rogue' apps in market conceal malicious software
Downloading can allow hackers to spy on your emails
Apps 'steal' by sending texts to premium numbers
Androids at risk because apps aren't vetted before they join Android Market - unlike iPhone apps


Last updated at 3:17 PM on 18th November 2011

Comments (35) Add to My Stories Share
The success of phones running Google's Android software has meant cyber-attacks have risen 472 per cent in just three months - from cyber-spying apps to apps that add to your phone bill
Google's Android operating system is far, far ahead of Apple's iPhone - analysts Gartner said that phones running the operating system accounted for 52.5 per cent of the smartphone market this year, compared to 15.6 per cent for iOS devices.
But in computing, success always comes at a price.

Hackers target the most successful operating systems with their most virulent and hi-tech attacks, simply because there are more victims.
Malware infection rates amongst Android users are going up at their highest rate ever, putting huge pressure on Google to improve its security.
Since July the number of attacks has increased by 472 per cent with most of those coming in the past few weeks
The rise comes off the back of a report in May which said that over the previous year malware incidents had gone up 400 per cent.
The studies were carried out by IT security firm Juniper Networks which blamed Google’s poor security for allowing so many users to be affected.
It said that once installed malicious programmes could either send personal information to a third party, or send text messages to a premium rate number without the person’s knowledge, costing them money that is not recoverable.
Google is particularly vulnerable because it doesn't 'vet' apps in its marketplace, unlike Apple - making it open season for hackers.


HTC's Evo 4G handset runs Google's popular Android software: But the internet giant's anything-goes approach to its app store has led to an increase in cyber attacks on users

Google’s Android is now the most popular platform for downloading apps, beating the iPhone and the iPad combined.
The operating system accounted for 44 per cent of all app downloads in the second quarter of this year. Apple only got 31 per cent across all of its platforms.
Android has become a target for hackers and others with malicious intent partly because it is the market leader.
But according to Juniper Networks, Google must also take some of the blame because there is no review process before an app is placed in the App Store.
Adding to the problem is that Android is open source, meaning it is far easier to create and App for free and redesign their own hardware.
October showed a 110 per cent increase in malware sample collection over the previous month and a 171 per cent increase from what had been collected up to July 2011.
Not only are the numbers going up, but the malicious programmes are getting more sophisticated too.
In its reporter Juniper Networks said: ‘We have since seen exponential grow in Android malware over the last several months.
‘The months of October and November are shaping up to see the fastest growth in Android malware discovery in the history of the platform.
‘The majority of malicious applications target communications, location, or other personal identifying information.
‘Of the known Android malware samples, 55%, acts in one way or another as spyware.
‘The other major type of attack, which make up 44%, are SMS Trojans, which send SMS messages to premium rate numbers owned by the attacker in the background of a legitimate application, without the person’s knowledge.
‘Once these messages are sent, the money is not recoverable, and the owners of these premium rate numbers are generally anonymous.’
The report adds that the main suspects behind such programmes are the same people who targeted other phones but have shifted because Android is now the most popular operating system

Android under assault as hacker attacks on phones go up 472 per cent in four months
By Daniel Bates
'Rogue' apps in market conceal malicious software
Downloading can allow hackers to spy on your emails
Apps 'steal' by sending texts to premium numbers
Androids at risk because apps aren't vetted before they join Android Market - unlike iPhone apps


Last updated at 3:17 PM on 18th November 2011

Comments (35) Add to My Stories Share
The success of phones running Google's Android software has meant cyber-attacks have risen 472 per cent in just three months - from cyber-spying apps to apps that add to your phone bill
Google's Android operating system is far, far ahead of Apple's iPhone - analysts Gartner said that phones running the operating system accounted for 52.5 per cent of the smartphone market this year, compared to 15.6 per cent for iOS devices.
But in computing, success always comes at a price.

Hackers target the most successful operating systems with their most virulent and hi-tech attacks, simply because there are more victims.
Malware infection rates amongst Android users are going up at their highest rate ever, putting huge pressure on Google to improve its security.
Since July the number of attacks has increased by 472 per cent with most of those coming in the past few weeks
The rise comes off the back of a report in May which said that over the previous year malware incidents had gone up 400 per cent.
The studies were carried out by IT security firm Juniper Networks which blamed Google’s poor security for allowing so many users to be affected.
It said that once installed malicious programmes could either send personal information to a third party, or send text messages to a premium rate number without the person’s knowledge, costing them money that is not recoverable.
Google is particularly vulnerable because it doesn't 'vet' apps in its marketplace, unlike Apple - making it open season for hackers.


HTC's Evo 4G handset runs Google's popular Android software: But the internet giant's anything-goes approach to its app store has led to an increase in cyber attacks on users

Google’s Android is now the most popular platform for downloading apps, beating the iPhone and the iPad combined.
The operating system accounted for 44 per cent of all app downloads in the second quarter of this year. Apple only got 31 per cent across all of its platforms.
Android has become a target for hackers and others with malicious intent partly because it is the market leader.
But according to Juniper Networks, Google must also take some of the blame because there is no review process before an app is placed in the App Store.
Adding to the problem is that Android is open source, meaning it is far easier to create and App for free and redesign their own hardware.
October showed a 110 per cent increase in malware sample collection over the previous month and a 171 per cent increase from what had been collected up to July 2011.
Not only are the numbers going up, but the malicious programmes are getting more sophisticated too.
In its reporter Juniper Networks said: ‘We have since seen exponential grow in Android malware over the last several months.
‘The months of October and November are shaping up to see the fastest growth in Android malware discovery in the history of the platform.
‘The majority of malicious applications target communications, location, or other personal identifying information.
‘Of the known Android malware samples, 55%, acts in one way or another as spyware.
‘The other major type of attack, which make up 44%, are SMS Trojans, which send SMS messages to premium rate numbers owned by the attacker in the background of a legitimate application, without the person’s knowledge.
‘Once these messages are sent, the money is not recoverable, and the owners of these premium rate numbers are generally anonymous.’
The report adds that the main suspects behind such programmes are the same people who targeted other phones but have shifted because Android is now the most popular operating system

Cheers. I have an android but it is very laggy. (That's why I'm looking for a new one)

IOS 5 on the iPhone is very buggy at the moment. Loads of people complaining about battery, reception etc. If they can iron out the bugs it would be one of my first choices.

http://www.apple.com/uk/ios/

Android has the new ICS 4.0 OS on the Nexus which looks impressive. Looks like a mssive leap forward from Gingerbread.

http://developer.android.com/sdk/androi ... ights.html

Haven't used Blackberry for a while but loved their push mail and bbm is probably still very good.

Had htc for 2 years and didnt have any ptobs apart from poor memory on phone.1gb(internal)
Now got 32gb iphone4 and i loves it butt....

So we've moved from best phones to best OS's now!

And iOS still kicks ass! And the battery issues were sorted when iOS 5.0.1 was released, sorted mine out anyway!

Androids IceCream Sandwich is hot though but still 2nd best

you can put anything you like on your android-as memory is on a micro sd and can copy anything u want.Got a samsung galaxy and no probs-just download one of free anti virus apps-i got avg and seems to do the job.found an app called MULTICLIP its free and you can download anything from utube to your phones movie folder and it converts them to mp4 so they play ok.my kids think i`m sad as got good few city clips-bellamy`s and chopra`s goals against the jacks,highlights of the famous leeds cup win,Brian clarks winner against Rmadrid ..and more--all classics that are worth watching over and over again.

you can put anything you like on your android-as memory is on a micro sd and can copy anything u want.Got a samsung galaxy and no probs-just download one of free anti virus apps-i got avg and seems to do the job.found an app called MULTICLIP its free and you can download anything from utube to your phones movie folder and it converts them to mp4 so they play ok.my kids think i`m sad as got good few city clips-bellamy`s and chopra`s goals against the jacks,highlights of the famous leeds cup win,Brian clarks winner against Rmadrid ..and more--all classics that are worth watching over and over again.

I take it you voted iOS!

you can put anything you like on your android-as memory is on a micro sd and can copy anything u want.Got a samsung galaxy and no probs-just download one of free anti virus apps-i got avg and seems to do the job.found an app called MULTICLIP its free and you can download anything from utube to your phones movie folder and it converts them to mp4 so they play ok.my kids think i`m sad as got good few city clips-bellamy`s and chopra`s goals against the jacks,highlights of the famous leeds cup win,Brian clarks winner against Rmadrid ..and more--all classics that are worth watching over and over again.

I take it you voted iOS!

i cant afford an i phone or i`d get one.....i am from neath after all and our gypo neighbours wouild mug me for it

The latest blackberry 0S7 is very good imo!

So we've moved from best phones to best OS's now!

And iOS still kicks ass! And the battery issues were sorted when iOS 5.0.1 was released, sorted mine out anyway!

Androids IceCream Sandwich is hot though but still 2nd best

I think I should ask later.