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February 23 2012
lookout
Ever wonder what ad networks your mobile apps are running? Today, Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphone platforms, is releasing a new, free Android app that aims to provide transparency into ad networks to help you understand what’s happening on your phone – from knowing what networks are on your device to understanding their capabilities. As Lookout says, sometimes apps access info for reasons that are not so obvious. As a way to further ensure users privacy, Lookout's Ad Network Detector app will show you what information the ad networks within the apps on your phone can access. For example, some ad networks will collect information from your phone for use in more targeted advertising marketing campaigns. This app just gives you insight into what information is being used.
December 14 2011
lok
Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphone platforms, is releasing its 2012 Mobile Malware Predictions, based on data collected from its Mobile Threat Network, a cloud-based network which constantly analyzes global threat data to identify and quickly block new threats with over-the-air app updates. The network includes more than one million apps and 15 million user devices worldwide. For background, Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected applications for Android, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and most recently iOS devices help users from losing their phones and identifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a tracking application, data backup and a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer.
June 15 2011
Lookout Expands Mobile Security App To Browsing; Lands Marketing Deal With Sprint
Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphones, is launching a new feature today that will protect users from online threats while browsing on a mobile phone.
For background, Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected applications for Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phones help users from losing their phones and identifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a tracking application and a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer.
With Safe Browsing, Lookout will automatically check every website a user visits, from an app, email, or browser on a mobile phone, to prevent phishing sites from stealing personal data and malware from being installed on a device. It promises the same sort of security that many browsers offer on the desktop
(but enhanced for mobile devices).
The fact is that smartphone users are now at risk for phishing scams, drive-by downloads and malicious sites on mobile browsers. And because users are clicking website links from a variety of apps on a mobile device (i.e. via Yelp, Twitter, email client, Google search and more), users need to be protected against suspicious sites.
Lookout’s Safe Browsing reviews every website in real time before the site loads to confirm it is safe. If a user unknowingly clicks on a link to a bad site, Safe Browsing will block access to the site automatically.
Safe Browsing, which is part of Lookout Premium. We have a special deal for TechCrunch readers who want to download the app; the startup has given readers $5.00 off the app if they use the code SURFSAFETC (the offer expires in a week).
Lookout is also announcing a deal with carrier Sprint to feature the app on their phones in the Android Market and more. This adds to previous deals with Verizon and T-Mobile.
There’s no doubt that Lookout is on a roll. In December, the company had 4 million users and has now more than doubled that number, with nine million users. And the company just raised $19.5 million in funding from Index Ventures, Accel Partners and Khosla Ventures. I think it’s safe to assume that 2011 will be a big year for the company.
February 16 2011
Lookout: Android Market Growing Faster, But App Store Attracting More Developers
Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphones, is releasing a new study today examining the Android Market and Apple’s App Store for U.S. users. It’s worth a look—the report has a number of interesting data points relating to growth, developers, mobile ad networks and more.
According to Lookout, the number of apps available for Android increased approximately 127% since August 2010, while iPhone saw a growth rate of 44%. Of course, the fact that the Android Market is growing faster isn’t new. And if apps continue to be developed for each platform at the same rate, Android apps will overtake iPhone apps in mid-2012.
While the Android Market may be growing at a faster rate than the Apple App Store, the Apple App Store continues to attract a significant portion of developers. The App Store attracted nearly 24,000 developers between August 2010 and February 2011, whereas the Android Market attracted just over 4,000 developers in the same time period.
The number of unique developers in the Apple App Store grew by approximately 48% over the past 6 months, while the number of unique developers in the Android Market grew by just over 40%. The Android Market generally has more apps per developer than the App Store. The average number of apps submitted per developer is 6.6 in the Android Market and 4.8 in the App Store.
In terms of free versus paid apps, previously, apps in the Android Market have been primarily free; however, over the past 6 months, the Android Market has seen an influx of paid apps. In contrast, the Apple App Store has seen an increase in the proportion of free apps, with prices of paid apps remaining steady, says Lookout. The Android Market saw its prevalence of paid apps grow from 22% to 34% during the past 6 months. The number of paid apps in the Apple App Store decreased from 70% to 66% in the past 6 months.
In terms of mobile ad networks, the AdMob SDK is integrated into more free apps in both the Android Market and the Apple App Store than any other ad platform. However, Lookout says that iAd is quickly gaining traction on the App Store and expects to see iAd surpass AdMob in prevalence amongst free Apple App Store apps during the first half of 2011. iAd has grown in prevalence from just 5.6% of free Apple App Store apps to 15% during the past 6 months
Lookout also examined the number of apps that access users location, claiming that the App Store has a higher percentage of apps that access contacts and location. According to the report, 28% of all apps in the Android Market and 35% of all apps in the Apple App Store access location. Plus, 7% of Android Market apps and 13% of Apple App Store apps have the capability to access contacts.
Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected applications for Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phones help users from losing their phones and identifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a tracking application and a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer. The startup also sponsors the App Genome Project, which is a mobile app dataset created to map the anatomy of mobile applications across multiple mobile platforms and app markets, to provide insight into mobile market dynamics and identify security threats in apps.
December 29 2010
Lookout Identifies Advanced Android Trojan (But You’re Probably Safe)
The future of computing is mobile, and, unfortunately, the future of malware will probably lie there too. Well-funded mobile security startup Lookout has just posted a blog entry detailing what it calls “the most sophisticated Android malware to date”: a Trojan that’s being “grafted” onto legitimate applications. Fortunately, the odds of you being affected are quite low.
The Trojan in question has only been seen on third-party Android app marketplaces in China, which aren’t accessible without turning on “Unknown Sources” from Android’s settings menu (the vast majority of users only download applications via the official Android Market). And the infected applications request access to far more of the user’s data than they normally would (users have to approve these requests before installing an app), which can tip users off that something is amiss.
But, if you’re unlucky enough to have cleared those hurdles, here are some of the details on what Lookout believes the Trojan is capable of:
Though we have seen Geinimi communicate with a live server and transmit device data, we have yet to observe a fully operational control server sending commands back to the Trojan. Our analysis of Geinimi’s code is ongoing but we have evidence of the following capabilities:
Send location coordinates (fine location)
Send device identifiers (IMEI and IMSI)
Download and prompt the user to install an app
Prompt the user to uninstall an app
Enumerate and send a list of installed apps to the server
Lookout writes that this is more sophisticated than previously discovered malware because it attempts to hide what it’s doing through encryption and bytecode obfuscation. It also says that this is the first Android malware that could potentially be used to create a botnet, though it hasn’t seen any instances of a server actually communicating with the Trojan yet:
Geinimi is also the first Android malware in the wild that displays botnet-like capabilities. Once the malware is installed on a user’s phone, it has the potential to receive commands from a remote server that allow the owner of that server to control the phone.
One other thing to note: Lookout is in the business of mobile phone security — it offers applications for Android, BlackBerry, and Windows mobile — so it obviously stands to benefit from exposing these exploits.
December 23 2010
Four Million Users Strong, Lookout Raises $19.5M For Smartphone Security Software
Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphones, has just raised $19.5 million in Series C funding led by Index Ventures with existing investor Accel Partners and Khosla Ventures participating in the round. This brings Lookout’s total funding to $36 million.
Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected applications for Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phones help users from losing their phones and identifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a tracking application and a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer. The company also announced today that it now has four million users, after crossing the two million mark in September.
The company says the growth in smartphone adoption, mobile app downloads and increased consumer awareness of mobile security threats have made consumers aware of the security threats on mobile phones. Similar to a PC, users are now recognizing the need to protect their phones from malware, viruses, data loss and more.
Lookout, which was just featured in a Verizon Wireless commercial, has also started bringing in revenue, recently rolling out its first premium services which include the ability to view a comprehensive list of apps that can access users private data, such as identity information, location, and messages. The premium plan also includes the ability to remotely wipe and lock a phone in case it is lost or misplaces. You will also be able backup and restore photos and call history, contacts and other data from different phones.
Smartphone security is sure to be a growing market, and Lookout says the new funding will be used for further expansion as well as new product development. And Lookout CEO and founder John Hering says that we can expect a security software app for iOS devices, including the iPhone, to be released in 2011.
November 02 2010
Lookout Goes Pro With Paid Version Of Smartphone Security Software
Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphones, is launching a premium service today. Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected applications for Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phones helps users from losing their phones and identifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a tracking application and a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer.
Lookout Premium for Android is essentially a suped up version of the free offering an includes new security and privacy features. With the Privacy Advisor feature, users can scan every app they download and quickly view a comprehensive list of apps that can access their private data, such as identity information, location, and messages. Additionally, consumers can view detailed app reports on the capabilities of these applications on their phone.
The premium plan also includes the ability to remotely wipe and lock a phone in case it is lost or misplaces. You will also be able backup and restore photos and call history, contacts and other data from different phones.
The free apps feature malware, virus and spyware protection, limited data protection and the ability to locate a missing device. Lookout Premium for Android phones is available for $2.99 per month or $29.99 annually, with a free 30-day trial.
In conjunction with the new paid offering, Lookout is also announcing that it has 3 million users (adding one million users only two months) and was recently featured in a Verizon Wireless commercial (see below). As we’ve written in the past, Lookout’s business is flourishing as smartphone adoption continues to rise. Users are becoming more aware of the security risks associated with the increased data and application usage on these devices.
In a recent study, Lookout found that more than 91% of consumers have some level of concern with the privacy of information on their phone, and only 7% of smartphone users feel extremely confident that they understand what private information is being accessed on the phone. Lookout also found that on average, users have 31 apps on their phones that can access their identity information, 19 apps that access their location and five apps that access their SMS and MMS messages.
September 09 2010
Smartphone Security Startup Lookout Crosses Two Million Users
Lookout, a company that offers security data backup services for smartphones, is growing rapidly. Less than two months after the startup surpassed one million users, the company has crossed the 2 million registered users mark. It took just over six months to reach 1 million users.
Lookout, which recently raised $11 million from Accel, Khosla and others, says the growth in smartphone adoption, mobile app downloads and increased consumer awareness of mobile security threats have made consumers aware of the security threats on mobile phones.
While smartphone use is growing rapidly, there are security risks associated with the increased data and application usage on these devices. Similar to a PC, users need to protect their phones from malware, viruses, data loss and more. Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected application indentifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer.
Lookout also recently launched the App Genome Project which identifies applications that carry the same characteristics of established dangerous applications, quickly isolate them, and protect users. To date, Lookout has analyzed over 300,000 apps.
In less than one year in business, the company has also found lost or stolen phones for users more than 700,000 times, with a phone found every 15 seconds over the past two months. And Lookout has backed-up over 130 million photos and backed-up over 625 million contacts.
Lookout is of course riding on the growth in smartphone adoption, and the increased use of apps on these phones. For now Lookout, which is on more than 400 mobile networks in 170 countries, is only available for BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile devices. Lookout has over 80% of its users on Android and BlackBerry with the remaining users on Windows Mobile. And 70% of users are in the US.
July 27 2010
Lookout’s App Genome Project Identifies iPhone And Android App Security Threats
Lookout, a company that offers security data backup services for smartphones, is announcing the results of its App Genome Project, a continued effort to map and study mobile applications to identify security threats in the wild, and determine how apps are using users’ personal data.
The App Genome Project has already scanned nearly 300,000 free applications, and fully mapped nearly 100,000 applications available in both Android Market and the App Store.
Early findings show differences in the sensitive data that is typically accessed by Android and iPhone applications and a proliferation of third party code in applications across both platforms.
For example, results found that Android applications are generally less likely than iPhone apps to be capable of accessing a person’s contact list or retrieving their location, with 29% of free applications for Android having the ability to access a user’s location, compared to 33% of free applications on iPhone. Of course, this isn’t a huge difference, but again, this is early data.
Additionally, Lookout says that nearly twice as many free applications have the capability to access people’s contact data on iPhone (14%) as compared to Android (8%). The App Genome Project also found that a large proportion of applications contain third-party code, which is used generally for advertising or analytics. The project found that 47% of free Android apps included third-party code, while that number is just 23% on iPhone.
Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected application indentifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer. Lookout, which just raised $11 million from Accel, Khosla and others, says the growth in smartphone adoption, mobile app downloads and increased consumer awareness of mobile security threats have helped make the offering a popular and necessary option for users.
For now Lookout, which is on more than 400 mobile networks in 170 countries and recently topped one million users, is only available for BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile devices. Lookout has over 80% of its users on Android and BlackBerry with the remaining users on Windows Mobile. And 70% of users are in the US.
July 01 2010
Smartphone Security Startup Lookout Tops One Million Users
Lookout, a company that offers security data backup services for smartphones, has reached a significant milestone: the startup now has one million users for its security application after only six months in operation.
Lookout, which just raised $11 million from Accel, Khosla and others, says the growth in smartphone adoption, mobile app downloads and increased consumer awareness of mobile security threats have helped make the offering a popular and necessary option for users. While smartphone use is growing rapidly, there are security risks associated with the increased data and application usage on these devices. Similar to a PC, users need to protect their phones from malware, viruses, data loss and more. Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected application indentifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer.
For now Lookout, which is on more than 400 mobile networks in 170 countries, is only available for BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile devices. Lookout has over 80% of its users on Android and BlackBerry with the remaining users on Windows Mobile. And 70% of users are in the US.
Over the past six months, Lookout has seen the number of malware and spyware threats per hundred devices double to nine in every 100 devices being affected annually. Lookout has helped find more than 130,000 lost or stolen phones, backed-up over 87 million photos, and backed-up over 300 million contacts.
Lookout’s CEO tells me that the next step for the company is to start looking at monetization angles with product development. While the application is free, Lookout sees potential in offering an enterprise version of its software.
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