Malware targeting Android devices rising

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- The amount of malware targeting Android devices such as smartphones and tablets tripled in the second quarter of 2012, a Russian security firm says.

Security company Kaspersky Labs said malware specifically targeting Android-based phones, tablets and computers increased by a significant amount in the quarter, SlashGear reported Thursday.

Kaspersky said 14,900 new malicious programs targeting Android devices were added to its database of malware threats, up from 5,441 in the first quarter.

Almost half were multi-functional Trojans designed to steal data from telephones such as contact names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers, the company said.

One alarming statistic, Kaspersky said, is that 18 percent of the threats detected during the quarter were so-called "back door" programs capable of giving malicious users full control over an infected Android device.