Sophos created a free anti-virus app for Android

Sophos created Sophos Mobile Security, a free lightweight anti-virus app that defends Android gadgets against viruses, privacy issues, malware and hardware loss- without reducing performance or battery life.

The amount of mobile malware is quickly increasingly, in particular on Android gadgets, the leading mobile phone operating system. According to Juniper Networks and F-Secure respectively, the rate of growth in Android viruses last year increased 155 percent over 2010, and the number of Android malware families nearly quadrupled from 2011 to 2012.

Sophos Mobile Security automatically scans applications as customers install them, blocking undesirable software and harmful code that can contribute to data loss and unexpected costs.

In addition to safeguarding gadgets from harmful applications and other risks, Sophos Mobile Security finds out lost or stolen Android gadgets and provides a remote lock to shield private information from unintended users.

“We’re seeing no slowdown in the number of malicious apps, as more smartphone owners use their devices to not only store personal data, but also access social networks and the Internet. This usage, coupled with the increase in BYOD activity, is making Android devices a compelling target for cybercriminals and malware,” told Matthias Pankert, vice president, product management, Sophos.”