Orange Android devices will come pre-installed with the Lookout Mobile Security applicationto prevent mobile devices being affected by malware and spyware.

Most of Orange’s catalogue of Android devices, including Sony, HTC and Samsung, will begin to be protected by Lookout in France, Slovakia, Spain, and the UK from early 2013.

The Lookout app’s Signal Flare feature will have the ability to locate a lost or stolen phone. Signal Flare also notes and records a device’s location when the battery becomes low, in case the phone’s battery dies after it has been lost or stolen.

Lookout claims to locate €5.5m worth of phones every day for customers who have downloaded the free app on their devices. However, the partnership with Orange will mean that the application will be pre-installed on Android devices, encouraging more users to use mobile security.

According to Lookout research, 40% of Android users will click on a malicious web link on their phone in 2013. Recently, Google’s open application platform has exposed the operating system (OS) to a number of cyber attacks.

More than 50% of devices running Google’s Android mobile OS have unpatched vulnerabilities, opening them up to malicious apps and other attacks, according to security provider Duo Bulletin. Security firm, Trend Micro noted that malware and information-stealing adware targeting Android was up 483% from Q2 2012 to Q3 2012.

Read the original article with all references here: network provider is looking to protect existing and new customers