NQ Mobile Inc. announced in a press release that mobile malware threats have increased by an astounding 163% up to 65,000 in the year 2012.

This being said they warn that the problem will continue to grow due to more complex targeting of connected devices with malware becoming increasingly smarter.

"Nearly 95 percent of all mobile malware discovered in 2012 targeted the Android OS. The top three methods for delivering malware in 2012 were app repackaging, malicious URLs, and smishing. NQ Mobile estimates that these forms of malware helped infect an estimated 32.8 million Android devices in 2012 -- an increase of over 200 percent from 2011."

"In the first quarter of 2013 mobile malware threats continued to grow and have become smarter. In February of this year, a new type of mobile malware was discovered that could jump from an Android device to infect a PC when they were connected via the USB port. Although only a few Android devices were infected, this attack illustrates the growing need to keep private data secure in an increasingly interconnected device ecosystem."

If you have an Android and haven't already installed some type of anti-virus or anti-malware for your device it is probably a good time to do so, and with as stated above 95% of all malware aimed at the Android it is almost a given that protection is needed.

Sophos offers a nice app that seems to perfectly fit this need, which we now list for download.