Security Risks That Android Applications Can Face

Among other things, Android susceptibilities are such things that still exists. When it comes to the development of mobile apps, securing the privacy of users becomes highly vital because of several enduring security threats.
This article will focus on all the security risks that several Android application development companies may confront while developing mobile applications.
Android is particularly the most extensively used operating system globally. That is why it is one of the most focused operating systems for cyber attacks and hackers.

Malware

According to some leading companies in mobile security, more than 90% of Android mobile devices are prone to this kind of security attack. The main accessing channel for the malicious software is downloading applications outside the Android play store, while this is the only way malware spread. At the present time, there are just about 75,000 recognized threats of this nature.

The span of malicious software is increasing day by day. About 80% of the time, malware result in higher phone bills by increasing the usage by spending data, making phone calls or sending messages without user’s approval.
Below are some of the most common malicious applications which can harm an Android mobile device:

Andr/PJApps-C:

These applications have been altered using a tool available on the internet. They are not only malicious but can also cause some kind of illegal action.

Andr/BBridge-A:

This application may install some extra malicious applications on Android mobile devices. It can also scan the SMS on devices and delete the warning about acquired content.

Andr/BatterD-A:

These malicious applications are secretly embedded within applications that appear to be designed in order to save the battery of the device but whose main motive is to send personally recognizable information to a server and presenting ads on the phone.

Andr/DrSheep-A:

This malicious application enables hackers to hijack social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn sessions on a wireless network environment.

Android Fragmentation

The term Android fragmentation means the fact that all the mobile devices running on Google’s operating system don’t use the same version of it. Some will never have their operating system updated, while other will be running on the updated version.

Those devices which are not updated become prone to security attacks due to previous operating system programming errors as they don’t have a new security updated.

Customized Operating Systems

This is another security risk for most of the Android mobile devices which may result in a violation. This security threat is faced by mobile users, manufacturers and Android application development companies. Users may also update or modify the operating system of their devices by including customization layers or through some launchers. In these scenarios, Android’s operating system is altered resulting in security breaches as it does not visualize the outcomes brought about by these changes.

Downloading Applications Outside The Google Play Store

Several times users choose to download applications from the third party websites in order to avoid payment. This leads to downloading of fake or malicious applications that have been altered to install a virus in user’s mobile device. Users must be careful with these kinds of a third-party application as Android application development is simple and any developer is able to develop a malicious app.

Incursion Of Malicious applications in Store

Issuing an Android application in the Google play store is almost simple. Moreover, Android app development is spreading like blaze and hundreds of application developers upload applications to Google play store every day. Though Google does its best to keep the play store safe from malware, but it’s possible that viruses may attack it.

This is the main reason why Google keeps clearing its store from time to time, in order to remove malware and malicious applications and secure the privacy of the users and mobile device.

Google also eliminates any published applications from the Play store that have been recognized as malicious. Though, it is always that possibility that those applications have been already downloaded by some users.

If the malicious application has been downloaded to a larger extent and several users have been affected, the solution is removing those malicious applications remotely which is known as ‘kill switch’.

Vulnerable Softwares for Mobile App Development

Android may sometimes become weak as an operating system when it comes to the applications that are included by default on the mobile devices, in tools from sources other than the platform or in those applications users download.

Conclusion

No software is completely perfect or secure. Even Google itself has not managed to create an operating system which is free from security gaps. However, most of the security gaps can be avoided if the application developers or Android application development companies develop applications correctly and the users must be careful while downloading applications and granting permission to mobile apps.