India has the most malware-infected Android devices: Report

Trend Micro reports of a malicious malware capable of rooting Android devices. The malware has been detected in 169 countries. India tops the list with over 35 percent infections followed by Indonesia and Philippines

Trend Micro reports of a malicious malware capable of rooting Android devices. The malware has been detected in 169 countries. India tops the list with over 35 percent infections followed by Indonesia and Philippines (PixaBay)

If you think your Android device is safe, please check again especially if you have been downloading apps from third-party sources.

A report published by Trend Micro reveals that Indian Android users topped the list with over 35 percent devices affected by a malicious malware capable of rooting Android devices. Indonesia and Philippines follow India in the survey which was conducted in 169 countries.

In a blog post, Trend Micro's latest data revealed 1,163 malicious Android application packages (APKs) infected with a dangerous malware known as 'ANDROIDOS_ LIBSKIN.A'.

The report further adds that during the period between January 29 and February 1, 2016, the malware was downloaded in 169 countries. During the period, over 35 percent of total infected devices were from India, Indonesia was next at 28 percent while only 1.22 percent of Android devices were affected in the US.

The chart above gives a breakdown of the countries affected by the malware from January 29 - February 1. (TrendMicro)

The chart above gives a breakdown of the countries affected by the malware from January 29 - February 1. (TrendMicro)

"Malicious apps were recently seen making the rounds in some third-party app stores. They spoof popular apps, increasing the chances of getting selected and downloaded. These include popular mobile games, mobile security apps, camera apps, music streaming apps, and so on," Trend Micro wrote in a blog post.

The report primarily highlights the dangers of downloading Android apps from third-party stores instead of the official Play Store. Users sometimes get swayed away by better deals they find on third-party app stores which often leads them to download infected versions of popular apps without their knowledge .