‘Safety first’ seems to be the mantra at T-Mobile as they tighten up security measures by partnering with Lookout, a mobile security company. The announcement of this partnership is good news for consumers as it has been initiated in order to ensure safety of mobile functions such as banking, business, using the internet etc. in what is now a technological playground with people using cell phones for multiple functions.
By launching the ‘automatic app security’ which is a free software aimed at protection against malwares i.e. malicious software as well as viruses. The company is looking to pre-load the software on the LG Optimus L9 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 which are expected to be launched in the upcoming few weeks. Continuing this trend, T-Mobile is looking to secure most Android phones it sells by 2013. The app will also be readily available for download, so consumers may set it up on their existing Android devices.
The application works as any other antivirus and performs a scan in order to ensure that all existing applications on the phone are virus and malware free. If not, it deletes the harmful applications after issuing a notification to the owner. Not very far behind seems to be Verizon, with the introduction of its ‘Mobile Security App for Android’, which is also a free application to protect users against malicious software. This application also works in a similar manner.
These steps to strengthen security measures seem to be a result of recent reports showing the Android OS as a highly vulnerable target. McAfee in its recent report stated that the quantity of malicious software in the Google Play market has increased exponentially i.e. 13000 as compared to the 2000 detected in 2011. Where in the previous quarter there were a number of well-known malicious applications targeted at Android, it has now an even larger variety to content with, like SMS sending malware, spyware, destructive trojans and mobile botnets.
These attempts by T-Mobile as well as Verizon by introducing free applications and softwares in order to fortify Android security as well as assist users in protecting themselves seems to have become the need of the hour with other mobile platforms like iOS, Windows Phone 8 and RIM’s BB10 OS displaying much better levels of security as compared to Android.
