A methodology for the security evaluation within third-party Android Marketplaces. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buchanan, William J.; Chiale, Simone; Macfarlane, Richard
• Is Part Of: Digital investigation. Volume 23(2017)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Malware analysis -- APK -- Android -- Marketplace; Forensic sciences -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Criminal investigation -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 363.250285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diin.2017.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-2876

Abstract

Abstract: This paper aims to evaluate possible threats with unofficial Android marketplaces, and geo-localize the malware distribution over three main regions: China; Europe; and Russia. It provides a comprehensive review of existing academic literature about security in Android focusing especially on malware detection systems and existing malware databases. Through the implementation of a methodology for identification of malicious applications it has been collected data revealing a 5% of them as malicious in an overall analysis. Furthermore, the analysis shown that Russia and Europe have a preponderance of generic detections and adware, while China is found to be targeted mainly by riskware and malware.