Mobile Threats Rise 261-percent in Perspective

A new report from ABI Research indicates that the number of unique mobile threats grew 261% in just two quarters. As mobile functionality grows so does the vulnerability threat vector as mobile malware is starting to target certain systems. This is certainly a concern for those organizations rolling out BYOD initiates. You've heard athletes and coaches talk about giving 110%, which is obviously impossible, but some of the recent mobile malware growth numbers are huge, like on the order of 1700%.

To gain some perspective, I wanted to know what else in the world is growing at 261%. Here's what I found.

Real Estate: According to this article, the Guangzhou City Housing Authority in 2012 said, Guangzhou hand house prices rose to 14,044 yuan from 3888 yuan, or up to 261%, while the national the national urban average house rose 143% - if I understood the article correctly.

US Household Debt: This article from June 2012, reported that household debt as a percentage of disposable income from 1989 to 2004, for the first four income quintiles and the top two deciles, the increase in debt per family was 261%, 170%, 131%, 90%, 103%, 93%. So during the credit boom the poorest families increased their debt, proportionally, the most. It has now dropped to 2004 levels of around 110% on average.

Mobile Ad Impressions: TechCrunch wrote back in December 2011 (Dec 30th, specifically), that mobile ad impressions on the new (at the time) Kindle Fire grew 261% on Christmas Day 2011. Mobile ad network Millennial Media reported that as consumers opened and used their new Kindle Fires, ad impressions increased even more. As millions of consumers unwrapped new Kindle Fires, Millennial saw an average daily growth rate of 113 percent. On December 24, impressions grew 32 percent; and on Christmas day in particular, impressions on the Kindle Fire grew 261%.

mCommerce: Research by IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index showed that there was solid growth in Internet retail sales in October 2012. British shoppers have been said to spend £6.7billion online and October 2012 saw 261% growth year on year.

Weather/Rainfall: Rainfall in New Delhi during February 2013 was 261% above normal. Apparently during that month, the active wet spells were a result of stronger than normal westerly winds in upper levels along Delhi latitude. An official was quoted saying, 'The low level wind anomaly over northwest Bay of Bengal and northeast Arabian Sea was southeasterly which facilitated enhanced moisture convergence over Delhi and adjoining areas.'

Gaming Casinos: A survey of 3,035 New England residents found that more than twice as many Massachusetts residents visited Twin River and Newport Grand Casinos as Rhode Island residents in 2012, continuing a six-year trend that saw the number of visits from Bay State residents to the Lincoln-based casino skyrocket by 261%. This may change soon however once Massachusetts opens three resort-style casinos.

Payday Loans: Larger banks started to jump into the lucrative payday loan business in 2010 and 2011 since, they can loan $100 for a $7.50 fee, an annualized interest rate of 261%. As the banks like to point out, it is less than the 400-plus% charged by many payday lenders.

The 1970s: While That 70s Show kicked off the careers of a few actors (T Grace, A Kutcher, M Kunis and others), the 70's was a period of high inflation with overall prices rising 261% during the decade. According to How Much Would £10 Have Bought You Over The Years?, during the 70s £10 would have bought one of the very first baby car seats for a new family, or a food mixer for a budding chef.

There were a couple others like ACCESS Bank posts 261% profit growth, shares of Time Warner Cable have risen 261% since the spinoff from Time Warner in 2009, and the fact that an income of $30,000 is 261% of the poverty level to qualify for certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act. 261% of anything is a significant jump in growth and clearly the rise mobile malware is no exception. Hopefully comparing it to other areas that had the same growth helps in understanding the significance today and maybe my blog will have a 261% increase in readership. I thought about playing 2-6-1 for the Daily 3 lottery but that was drawn on March 30, 2013.