High Tech Mobile Devices Are No Longer Safe from the Threat of Viruses

With wireless communication becoming more technologically advanced, it was only a matter of time before our cell phones became vulnerable to the same types of viruses that commonly affect computers.

The manufacturers of our portable high tech devices are working hard to turn cell phones into mini entertainment platforms. PDA's, and Smart phones are now capable full HTML web browsing, and many offer mobile versions of popular Microsoft Office applications.

They are impressive to say the least. To offer these capabilities the devices have mobile versions of the latest PC operating systems. In short, with the right phone in your pocket, there are very few things you can do on you home PC that can't be done mobile.

Unfortunately, working just as hard as the manufacturers of these devices, are the creators of computer viruses. The rapid advances in mobile communications have given them a whole new target of opportunity. Enter the cell phone virus! There are actually a few to choose from.

I first became interested in this as a matter of personal experience.

I've been using the same cell phone for over a year and unlike its predecessors, I have been very satisfied with its performance. I have yet to find a place that it doesn't get a signal and dropped calls have become a thing of the past. The battery life is better than average, and as a bonus, it's not bad looking either.

Then it happened. A few weeks ago it began to randomly switch from one screen to another. It would freeze in the middle of dialing or texting, and once frozen, would not even turn off. The battery would have to be removed and reinstalled almost every time I used it. Battery life also became nearly non existent. The suddenness of it all was odd to say the least.

I began pondering the complexity of the device and wondered if it were possible for it to be infected with some type of virus. I sat down at my (currently uninfected) PC and after a little research found out that not only do cell phones get viruses, but mine was a case in point. The problem was then easily solved, and thankfully, my trusty phone is once again performing like a champ.

What viruses are affecting mobile devices, and who is most vulnerable?

Cabir, is the bugger that got me and is the most common. It causes the malfunctions I mentioned and can be delivered a few different ways. Bluetooth transmission is responsible for most cases. An infected device with Bluetooth enabled can infect any other Bluetooth device within 30 feet, provided that it too is enabled or in discovery mode. So far, it is just a nuisance, but could fool you into thinking that your phone is actually damaged. Text and picture messages from unknown sources should be deleted and not opened as they pose a risk. Downloading ring tones from sources other than your wireless provider may also be opening your device up to a potential infection. Information about Cabir can be found at www.disklabs.com.

Phones most likely to be infected use GSM technology and will probably have a SIM card installed. The card makes a nice home for the virus and could actually spread it from one device to another if the card is transferred to a new phone. Cingular, T-Mobil, and ATT are GSM providers and many of their phones use SIM cards.

Next on the list is Skulls. This one is typically spread via picture message and will, as the name indicates, change your display to skulls. Deleting the message should remove the virus and return your phone to normal.

Last, but certainly not least is RedBrowser. This is the wireless worlds very own Trojan and the most damaging of all three. It can be spread like the others but will cause your phone to dial premium service numbers that can cost $5.00 and more per call. In a short time you could rack up an outrageous wireless bill. RedBrowser acts like a PC Trojan and can use the numbers in your contacts to dial and spread the virus without your knowledge. PDA's, and Smart phones are most susceptible. Antivirus developers have versions of popular antivirus software for devices that use mobile operating systems.

If you are interested in learning more about RedBrowser, visit www.viruslist.com and enter the name. Skulls can also be found there.

Now that you know cell phone viruses are for real you can take the appropriate action to protect your device from being infected as well as prevent the spread of viruses to other phones. For more information on cell phone viruses, devices and solutions, you can visit the sites I referenced while researching this article:

www.wisegeek.com

www.disklabs.com

www.viruslist.com

www.s60.com