If you follow technology news you likely know that the Android Market has recently seen its 10 billionth application downloads. In a time where many people in the Western world have cell phones and smart phones it should come as no surprise that apps are frequently being downloaded. Whether you are bored and need a game to play or you want to lose a few pounds and need a calorie tracking application the Android Market is there for you. But with the billions of download the Android market is still seeing malware on the rise. While I have covered this topic before on this blog it is important to address again to ensure that Android users are careful when browsing the app store.

“Analyzing the malware landscape this year, the security vendor (Fortinet) tracked a 90 percent jump in Android malware families in 2011 compared with 2010. That figure doesn’t account for infection rates or severity, only the rise in malware seeking to infect Android devices,” reported CNET.

With such a drastic increase in the amount of malware seen on the Android platform over the past year it is important that you are careful when selecting the applications you are going to download. Hackers and malware authors are working diligently to attempt to stay a step ahead of Android users so they can infiltrate the Android Market with malicious software that will compromise personal information. From finding your location to sending fake messages to premium numbers that will cost you money or even finding banking information mobile malware is a true threat.

By being conscientious about which applications you download you can rest assured knowing that you are steering clear of malware. Some people may believe that malware can only infect their computers and compromise their network security but when you think about it your smart phone is just a miniature computer and can most certainly be affected. If you believe your phone has been infected with malware take it to your mobile phone retailer as soon as possible to have it checked out. Eradicating malware should be your first technology priority once you discover your device has been infected as letting it stay on the device can only lead to negative repercussions.