Most Popular Android Malware: Angry Birds Rio Unlocker

AVG has published a new version of its Threat Report, which covers the third quarter of this year.

According to AVG, the most common malware threat on the web is currently Rogue AV Scanner, which made up almost 28 percent of malware detected by AVG. Exploit toolkits represent more than 30 percent of threat activity on websites; more than 35 percent of spam still originates from the U.S. and bit.ly remains the most abused URL shortener for spam purposes.

However, there is also a fairly comprehensive report on Android malware vulnerability, which states that Android's popularity makes it an increasingly attractive target for attackers. Angry Birds Rio Unlocker is the most widely distributed malware application that is luring Android users. According to AVG, tricking Android users into downloading an application from both Android market as well as lesser know third party app stores. "We have noticed a marked increase during 2011," AVG said. "Malicious applications are often masked as useful applications, games or adult content. Two examples of fake applications were fake versions of HandcentSMS and AngryBirds."

AVG included a detailed description of the features of one particular Android malware and the reasons why such programs can work so effectively: because they work via services in the background and escape the eyes of the average user.

AVG also added details about newly evolving threats on social networks such as Facebook, which include digital currency threats as well as Facebook clickjacking and Blackhole attacks. Supported by vehicles such as Facebook, clickjacking has apparently evolved into a huge source of income for attackers. AVG believes that 600,000 clickjack attacks occur every day. The company further estimates that this base could deliver about $20 million of revenue for attackers every day.