Samsung plans to install antivirus software on its Android devices. The application will be distributed from Lookout as a response to a recent report co-authored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department. The said report showed that 79 percent of the malware threats targeted Android devices in 2012.
Smartphones, being always turned on, has made it exposed to heightened threat from hackers. In Europe, for instance, several corporations have had much secret information already swiped from mobile devices.
Samsung’s plan to install antivirus software on Android devices is to protect those who use their phone at work. Samsung has recently installed its new Samsung KNOX software to specific Samsung Galaxy S4 models through a firmware update. KNOX is an application that secures business users that allows them to surf the net, share files, and etc.
However, not everyone thinks that this antivirus software is really necessary.
Adrian Ludwig, Android’s lead security engineer told Wall Street Journal, “There's not really a significant amount of risk that users are being exposed to. It's also, frankly, nothing like the risks they accept in their day-to-day lives.” But the truth is that threat does really exist, not just for corporations, but also for individuals. A fake camera application which can be downloaded on the Google Play Store gave access to hackers to control which websites a phone that has that application would check. The app was then removed (no pun intended).
Lookout’s antivirus software checks installed and downloaded apps for possible threats, screens messages delivered to your phone and also protects the device while browsing the net. The only disadvantage is that the application consumes three to five percent of the device’s battery life.
There is no specific release date of the antivirus software in Samsung’s devices.
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