Virus Invasion Rings Smart Phone Safety Alarm

With the rapid development of mobile Internet, various viruses have also resorted to this channel of communication and have been aggressively attacking mobile phone terminals. In particular, smartphones with powerful processing capabilities and Internet access capabilities have become the most vulnerable targets for viruses. Experts pointed out that the demand for mobile phone security products by smart phone users will gradually become rigid demand. Support for multi-platform smart phone will become the direction of product development for mobile phone security software manufacturers. In addition, security software providers should join hands with operators and terminal enterprises to establish a complete mobile phone security industry chain from standards, business models, and other aspects.

Smart phones become targets

The data of the network traffic monitoring department shows that about 6% of the mobile phone application software for downloading on the Internet currently has mobile phone viruses or malicious plug-ins. The spread of cell phone virus is gradually expanding, and the speed of variants is getting faster and faster. This poses a challenge to mobile phone security software providers.
According to data released by research company Frost & Sullivan, as of the end of June 2010, the total number of mobile phone viruses and malware that were intercepted in China exceeded 1600, and by the end of 2010, the number of mobile phone viruses and malicious software will reach 2,400. At present, mobile phone viruses are beginning to form a large-scale "botnet network." The "black industrial chain" on mobile phones has been formed and continues to develop.
Yang Ping, deputy director of the value-added services professional committee of the China Communications Enterprise Association, told China Electronics News that with the gradual popularity of smartphones, malicious customization of mobile phone software, leakage of personal information, and unclear deduction of charges will all bring tremendous security to mobile phones. challenge.
However, in stark contrast to the intensification of mobile phone viruses, mobile phone security has not received the attention that mobile phone companies and users should have. According to Frost & Sullivan data, by the end of June 2010, the number of active users of mobile security products in China had reached 54 million. "Compared to 800 million mobile phone users, the market penetration rate of current mobile security software is still very low." NetQin CEO Lin Yu said in an interview with a reporter from China Electronics News.
However, with the advent of the 3G smart era, the mobile phone security market has ushered in an opportunity for development. Especially with the popularization of smart terminals, the demand of smart phone users for mobile phone security products will gradually become a rigid demand, which will play an important role in promoting the market penetration rate of mobile phone security products. Frost & Sullivan data shows that in 2009, the number of mobile phone security product activation users was more than doubled in 2008, and in June 2010 this figure was more than doubled at the end of 2009.
The reporter learned that currently mobile phone security products are mainly pre-installed by terminal companies and operators in mobile phones. However, mobile phone companies and operators generally adopt a cautious attitude toward pre-installed security products, which restricts the expansion of the scale to a certain extent. Lin Yu said that compared with domestic companies, Nokia and other foreign giants attach more importance to security products. In the future, strengthening cooperation with domestic mobile phone companies and operators will play a key role in the development of the security products market.

Antivirus software still has holes

In the current smart phone field, there are multiple operating system melee situations. If mobile phone security companies want to play a role in the smart phone market, they need to develop security products for different smart operating systems. However, the reporter learned that although security companies such as NetQin, 360, Kingsoft, and F-Secure have all launched their own security products, they are lacking in multi-platform processing capabilities.
The mainstream vendors have developed security products for the Symbian platform. Most vendors have developed security products for the Windows Mobile platform. However, 360 and Jinshan have not yet launched products for the Windows Mobile platform. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the Android platform is increasingly attracting the attention of mobile phone security vendors. NetQin, 360, Kingsoft and F-Secure have all released security products for the Android platform.
Lin Yu introduced that a few days ago, NetQin Global Mobile Security Center intercepted a mobile phone virus named "Android SMS Undercover" and a variant of it. It is confirmed that this is the first virus that appears on Android phones. The virus can steal the content of the SMS in the mobile phone, causing serious leakage of user privacy. In addition to stealing the SMS, the variant virus can also monitor the user's call history.
It is worth noting that although in the global market, the market share of Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry has continued to increase, but security vendors have not yet developed security products for these two mobile platforms. Lin Yu revealed that NetQin will launch related products as soon as possible to enhance the processing capability of multiple platforms.

Build a safety net with the operator as the core

From the current perspective, the mobile phone security market is mainly driven by security software providers, and the enthusiasm of terminal enterprises and operators is not high. It is very important to mobilize the enthusiasm of terminal enterprises and operators to create a benign business cooperation model.
The benign business model is to create a win-win situation. Not only will security vendors benefit, but operators and end-users will also benefit. At present, 360, Jinshan, Rising, Shinan Yi, Jiangmin and other traditional manufacturers of products are still mainly free. Some vendors use traditional PC antivirus software sales models such as Kaspersky, F-Secure, Symantec, and McAfee to provide users with standard product function software packages.
“Standardized products help provide users with complete and comprehensive security protection, but a unified product mix and fee standards will, to a large extent, impair the user’s enthusiasm for use, and it is not conducive to the rapid growth of the number of users of the product.” Frost & Sullivan Analysis Wang Zhenying said.
Lin Yu believes that with the mobile phone security market gradually maturing, stronger manufacturers will certainly choose a free and paid business model that combines basic protection features free, personalized value-added service charges.
In the era of 3G intelligence, the situation in which operators dominate the development of the industry is becoming more and more obvious. The establishment of the security industry chain with operators as the core has become an irreversible trend. According to experts, in addition to the pre-installed cooperation model, mobile phone security vendors can provide security scanning services for operators' mobile application stores, and can also provide operators with business content support related to mobile phone security functions.
Deputy Deputy Inspector of the Department of Technology of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xiaohui pointed out that mobile phone security involves operators, mobile phone manufacturers, mobile phone security software manufacturers, and users. All parties should strengthen cooperation and work together to promote the healthy and rapid development of China's mobile phone industry. At the same time, research on key technologies for mobile phone security should be strengthened, and a scientific and rational mobile phone security standard system should be gradually established to provide strong technical standards for mobile phone security.