Researchers 'Map' Android Malware Genome

yahoi writes "Researchers at NC State are sharing their analysis and classification of Android malware samples under a new project that they hope will help shape a new way of fighting malware, learning from the lessons of the PC generation and its traditional anti-malware products. Xuxian Jiang, the mastermind behind the Android Malware Genome Project, says defenses against this malware today are hampered by the lack of efficient access to samples (PDF), as well as a limited understanding of the various malware families targeting the Android. The goal is to establish a better way of sharing malware samples and analysis, and developing better tools to fight it, he says."

Comments

Re:Apple's closed system

[Charliemopps]

Apple is using that same control to prevent you from scanning for viruses...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/05/22/apple-wont-let-kaspersky-develop-tools-for-ios/

Re:Funny how things work out

[ozmanjusri]

When you strip the anti-malware vendor hype away, the threat's a lot smaller than most people realise.

Some of the biggest "infections" weren't really malware at all. Kindsight Security Labs Malware Report for Q1 2012 says:

Without Plankton/Apperhand (no longer classified as malware) included in the infection statistics, mobile device infection has actually leveled off in the first quarter of 2012. We believe that this trend in mobile device infections will not last as the target is too tempting to hackers

http://www.kindsight.net/sites/default/files/Kindsight_Security_Labs-Q112_Malware_Report-final.pdf