Cloud-Based Apps Rife with Malwares: Netskope

CALIFON, N.J. - March 4, 2016 - PRLog -- A troubling new finding has surfaced for users who rely heavily on cloud services to get things done. According to a study carried out by Netskope, a California-based cloud security services firm, 4.1% of all apps in the cloud sphere are infected with malwares.

Netskope published the alarming news in its annual Worldwide Cloud Report that includes an investigation of only the sanctioned apps, which represent a mere 5% of all cloud-based apps. (Netskope studied billions of customer transactions in the fourth quarter of 2015.) Considering that the majority of the cloud-based app space is largely unregulated and unmonitored, the company estimated that the overall malware infection in such apps could be a lot worse than 4.1%.

The complexity of infection in the apps ranged from worms to trojans, or from spyware to ransomware, which pose the risk of “fanning out” the spread further when cloud users inadvertently sync and share their files in their work circle. However, there are also instances where infected files were only copied but didn't execute the payload unless a user prompted them, Netskope said in its report.

The company's CEO Sanjay Beri said that this revelation should come as an impetus for organizations to fortify their cloud security and control the app usage against vulnerabilities.

"Employees are adopting cloud apps at an unprecedented rate, and organizations must prepare for the increasing security risks and challenges associated with the changing workplace," Beri said, adding, “It's only with this knowledge that IT can begin to protect against threats lurking in cloud apps, such as malware."

One of the ways cloud users can combat the malware theat in cloud apps is by installing cloud antivirus programs in their computers, or opting for cloud vendors who assure such antivirus capabilities in their storage service.

The growing need to incorporate cloud antivirus was also evidenced in December last year, when hackers used Dropbox to spread malware especially in some popular dating sites. In the past, Dropbox has also been a victim of state-sponsored cybercrime reportedly from China who used its service to cover up their command and control servers.

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