Malware Coming to Smartphones, Malware Services Needed from Carriers, says Unstrung Insider and Light Reading

A new report from Unstrung Insider and Light Reading shows an increasing demand for  applications that minimize the potential impact of malware
on mobile services.

Smartphone Security: Solving the Mobile Malware Problem examines
the mobile malware security sector. Key findings include:

  • Mobile operating systems and downloads,
    both of which are increasingly similar to those found on PCs, are
    significant problem areas for mobile malware threats.
  • Carriers
    will begin offering mobile malware services as a way to compete and
    differentiate themselves in the market over the next 12 months.
  • A
    number of factors must be considered when budgeting for mobile malware
    security, including the customer's risk profile and the type of
    applications run on the device.
  • The SMB market is one of the strongest for mobile malware security vendors.

"Mobile malware threats are on the rise,
especially as smartphones increase in popularity, because smartphone
operating systems are a primary malware target,"  notes Denise Culver, research analyst with Unstrung Insider
and author of the report.

Security applications are aimed at minimizing the malware threat
before a full-fledged attack can occur, Culver says. "Mobile malware
security vendors are preparing for wide-scale attacks by hackers --
attacks that eventually will be as headline grabbing as those that hit
email systems," she notes. "Their hope is that smartphone
manufacturers, carriers, and enterprises -- not to mention smartphone
users -- will not wait until the threats have reached that level before
securing their mobile systems."

To subscribe, or for more information, please visit: www.unstrung.com/insider. For more information on all of Light Reading's Insider services, please visit www.lightreading.com/research.

Smartphone Security: Solving the Mobile Malware Problem is available as part of an annual single-user subscription (12 monthly issues) to Unstrung Insider, priced at $1,595. Individual reports are available for $900 (single-user license).