Smartphone malware risk? [malware event]

Question

Hi experts,
Well smartphone usage has been rising in my country (Malaysia). More and more people are able to get one for themselves including hawker stall owners in the night market. Phone makers started to have good business here  
However, not many users know about the risk of malware attack, how it happens, the recovery as well as precautions. 
Anyone on the floor could share their insight with us on this topic?
- Cleo
WW Social Media
T61, T410, x240, Z500, Flex 14
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Answer 1

Rapid increase is a very subjective term. If you have 2 of something and then have 8, that's a 400% increase - but 8 is still not very many.
How the malware is being counted is also a factor. Some are counting the number of malicious apps rather than the number of actual malware. If 20 apps are counterfeited and trojaned with 1 malware, that's still 1 malware - but an awful lot of marketing folks are claiming it as 20.
Android malware has been heavily in the news lately, so I'll use that example. Depending on whether you count apps or actual malware, there's either just under 1000 or less than 100.
That doesn't mean the *potential* for the threat should be ignored. It's definitely a development worth keeping an eye on. But right now, it's like any other warez. If you download stolen / illegal software (i.e. warez) your risk of infection rises exponentially. Ditto for downloading apps from non-legitimate marketplaces.