Android devices are now neck-and-neck with Windows laptops when it comes to the number of devices infected with malicious software, new findings have claimed.
A report from Alcatel-Lucent’s Motive Security Labs revealed the number of malware infections grew 25 percent in 2014 to an estimated 16 million.
[Read more: Malware attacks on the rise, with Android most at risk]
The vendor put the overall mobile infection rate last year at 0.68 percent, with “high-level” threats such as rootkits and banking trojans up five percent and spyware also on the rise.
Apple iPhones and BlackBerry devices accounted for less than one percent of infections.
The report claimed users’ unwillingness to take proper precautions put both personal and corporate data at risk, as well as exposing users to DDoS attacks, personal espionage and information theft.
A-L revealed that 65 percent of subscribers believe it is the responsibility of their service provider to protect their mobile and home devices.
[Read more: Alcatel-Lucent launches virtualised security service for network-level security]
According to the vendor, the risk is being exacerbated by a rise in malware attacks on cash registers and point-on-sale terminals, which provide an easier target for cyber criminals than online stores.
Infections in residential networks were also up five percent compared to 2013, with malware detected in just over 13 percent of homes.
Patrick Tan, General Manager of Network Intelligence at Alcatel-Lucent, said: “With malware attacks on devices steadily rising with consumer ultra-broadband usage, the impact on customer experience becomes a primary concern for service providers.
“As a result, we’re seeing more operators take a proactive approach to this problem by providing services that alert subscribers to malware on their devices along with self-help instructions for removing it.”
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