Free Trend Micro Dr. Safety mobile security app for mobile gamers

To help combat the rapid rise of malicious and high-risk mobile apps in a game-loving nation like Malaysia, Trend Micro has come together with mobile game developers from around Asia to set up the Safe Gaming Alliance.

As part of this commitment, Trend Micro is introducing the first-of-its kind Dr. Safety mobile security app for free, together with game developers in an effort to create a world safer for mobile gaming.

Mobile gaming developers forming part of the Safe Gaming Alliance include Malaysia-based AppXplore, as well as developers from the region such as CreatioSoft, FunPlus, Games Solution Centre – Singapore, Gamiana, Gumi Asia, Monkey Wrench Games, PIGSSS GAMES, Softstar Entertainment and Tuttifrutti Interactive.

First launched in Taiwan, Trend Micro Dr. Safety is a free mobile app with a unique game application recommendation function, giving mobile gamers the confidence to play any recommended games with a peace of mind and sparing them the worry of downloading a copycat application or having virtual items stolen. Promising 100% detection, Dr. Safety protects users against external threats and efficiently clears any malicious mobile applications off their devices. It improves user’s Facebook privacy and identify malicious apps that steal info including fake banking apps. Trend Micro Dr. Safety provides 100% detection according to AV-TEST and is also certified by PCSL and AV-Comparatives.

The six safeguarding features in Trend Micro Dr. Safety include:

1. Safeguard game account – scans all of your apps and files to ensure they are not malicious
2. Safeguard privacy – identifies which apps collect and steal your personal info using the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network
3. Anti-phishing – blocks malicious websites including phishing and fake bank sites
4. Anti-theft – finds your device back when you have lost it
5. Anti-disturbance – blocks unwanted contact with whitelists and blacklists of phone numbers
6. Secure Certified Games Recommendation – download apps with confidence and play recommended games and utilities without worries

Trend Micro’s recent online poll surveying more than 2,000 respondents from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines revealed that consumers in Asia have a robust appetite for mobile gaming. Yet, with the extensive usage of mobile phones for gaming, many consumers remain vulnerable to mobile threats, it said. Key findings of the online poll include:

• Consumers in Malaysia are avid gamers – 75 percent of respondents in Malaysia play mobile games at least once a week, with 46 percent gaming daily. In terms of mobile gaming app downloads, 37 percent of consumers download gaming apps weekly, while 26 percent download gaming apps monthly.
• While consumers in Malaysia love mobile gaming, many are not willing to spend more than USD$2 on mobile gaming apps – 67 percent of respondents in Malaysia will not pay more than USD$2 per app.
• On average, less than half of surveyed parents are involved in their children’s mobile lifestyle – Only 41 percent of respondents in Malaysia are aware of what their children play on mobile devices even though 48 percent of respondents game frequently with family members and friends.
• More than half of respondents in Malaysia are vulnerable to mobile threats – Only 19 percent of respondents in Malaysia have security or anti-virus apps installed on their mobile phones. When asked if they have encountered or downloaded fake or risky apps, 38 percent indicated they have, while 23 percent said they do not know if they have downloaded fake apps.
• Most consumers in Malaysia do not check if their apps are authentic – Only 23 percent of respondents in Malaysia check their apps following download from the app stores.

According to a report from Dutch-based research firm Newzoo, mobile-games revenue will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 27.3 percent until 2016. The report also cited that the Asia-Pacific region is by far the biggest market for mobile games with 48 percent of global revenue.

The number of mobile malware and high-risk apps hit 2 million according to Trend Micro’s first quarter security roundup for 2014. The online security company said the mobile threat landscape is quickly resembling today’s PC threat landscape wherein vulnerabilities are discovered one after another since June 2013.

Trend Micro Dr. Safety is now available for download in Google Play(Android) and supports English, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese (Traditional), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.