How malware infects apps

Why is malware getting into your apps? 

Malicious software on popular mobile platforms such as iOS and Android is at best a nuisance and at worst a security threat to individuals and businesses.

Known as malware, some perpetrators use it to infect apps and get inside your smartphone. Why do they do it? Money, mostly.

The recent Judy malware, for example, was reportedly found in 41 apps in the Google Play store. It seems to have made money for its creators by repeatedly auto-clicking on advertisements. Other mechanisms for mobile malware monetisation include covert sending of premium rate SMS messages, financial fraud and credential theft.

With millions of apps out there, it's a growing problem.

Pervasiveness of mobile app malware

It's difficult to get a firm idea of the size of the malware problem when it comes to apps.

A study conducted as part of a project called ANDRUBIS, published in 2014, examined one million Android applications. These were gathered directly from the Google Play app marketplace, as well as from unofficial marketplaces and services offering pirated apps.

The study found 1.6% of apps sampled from Google Play to be malicious in nature at the time, but other studies have shown different ratios. There is a lack of comprehensive data available concerning malware on the Apple App Store, although there are some known examples.