Sophos rolls out Mobile Security 3.0

Sophos has introduced the latest version of its free Android security app, Sophos Mobile Security 3.0. The updated app comes with various new features with special emphasis on app protection, faster scanning of apps and web protection.

“As more consumers and businesses purchase Android smartphones and tablets, it’s no surprise that more apps are now associated with security risks and privacy issues. According to recent industry research, 80 percent of Android apps exhibit at least one risky behaviour,” says Sophos in a release.

“An equally alarming industry statistic, users not running the most recent version of Android (comprising more than 90 percent of active users) are vulnerable to known exploits, resulting in a more than 600 percent increase in Android malware infections.”

What’s new in Sophos Mobile Security 3.0

• Application protection: Protects the start of selected applications with a password, meaning you can let others use your phone without risking your corporate data security. You can protect your settings or Google Play app and any other mobile application.
• Faster Scanning: Significantly improves scan speed by leveraging the power of multi- core phones
• Web Protection (now included in free version): Blocks access to malicious or phishing websites, so you can access the Internet worry-free

“If Android malware risks weren’t enough, Android device loss and theft are an enormous issue, especially considering that more than 100 cell phones are lost or stolen every minute just in the US alone,” says Thomas Lippert, senior product manager, mobile, Sophos.

“Mobile malware leads to data loss and unexpected cost issues, while actual device loss and theft leads to potentially much worse. Either way, it’s imperative for users to ensure their devices are protected. And we’re providing this protection – for free.”

Android users can download the app from the Google Play store for free