Contrary to what you’ve heard, Android is almost impenetrable to malware
"Google’s Android Security chief Adrian Ludwig reported data showing that less than an estimated 0.001% of app installations on Android are able to evade the system’s multi-layered defenses and cause harm to users. Android, built on an open innovation model, has quietly resisted the locked down, total control model spawned by decades of Windows malware. Ludwig spoke today at the Virus Bulletin conference in Berlin because he has the data to dispute the claims of pervasive Android malware threats. "
"A recent leaked report (pdf) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) found that most Android malware was installed via text message. We’ve asked DHS to confirm its findings but have gotten no response at this time. This is what Ludwig had to say:
“An application that a user installs from a link within a text message would be included in these statistics [reported today in Berlin]. Some of the short one to two day increases in ratio of installs per million apps can be attributed to text messaging or email spam campaigns.”
Contradicting these anecdotal reports, Ludwig’s analysis indicates that Android malware is not as significant a threat as has often been reported. Ludwig suggests that combining Google’s data driven approach with the research efforts of the industry will improve Android’s malware defenses going forward. "