$389 Million Mobile Application Security Market Set to Explode as Threats Increase Significantly

Games, social networking, productivity apps, financial tools are flocking to the mobile platform, and along with it, malware. Loss, theft, spam, Trojans, spyware, data breach, and aggressive advertising are some of the few threats facing vulnerable devices. Between Q1 2011 and Q2 2012 ABI Research found that unique malware variants grew by 2180% reaching 17,439.

ABI Research shows that the global market for mobile application security will be worth $398 million by the end of 2012. This includes revenues for paid apps, partnerships with manufacturers and operators, white label deals, and dataset sales. To date, ABI Research calculates that there have been over 130 billion downloads of mobile security apps.

And these threats are set to increase significantly. “With the increasing popularity of smartphones, mobile threats are on the rise. This has implications for security at the corporate level as well as for individual privacy,” says Michela Menting, senior cyber security analyst. “The mobile application security market is rife with vendors offering their wares. The priority now for end-users is understanding the issue at hand and finding the right offering that best suits their needs.”

A number of companies are standing out among the hoards of mobile security vendors. Among them, AVG Technologies, Lookout, and Avast Software offering well-rounded software that address malware, privacy and anti-theft concerns. With regards to innovation Lookout, Dr.Web, and TrustGo stand-out among other vendors. As for implementation, McAfee, Kaspersky Lab, and Ikarus have excelled in deploying viable long-term strategies.

These findings are part of ABI Research’s new Mobile Security Research Service which includes Market Data, Insights, and Competitive Assessments.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.