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faie · 06-16-2004, 11:31 PM

I remember getting hoaxes via e-mail about mobile phone viruses a few years back. Well, here comes the real thing:

According to Reuters, a group of underground virus writers has showed off what is believed to be the world's first worm, named Cabir, that can spread on advanced mobile phones. However, security software companies say the virus had no malicious code attached. This is the first version of a network worm which propagates via mobile phones. The worm is designed to work in smartphones running on Symbian and Series 60 software, Symantec said on its Web site. Nokia, however, was not immediately available to comment.

The worm is not regarded as dangerous because even if it spreads it carries no code that destroys files or executes other damaging operations, the security software firms said. The virus attempts to jump from phone to phone by using the handset's wireless short-range Bluetooth connection. It scans the environment for other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Once it has found one, it sends itself disguised as a security file. The file must be accepted by the mobile phone owner and then installed before it can propagate.

A spokesman at London-based technology firm Symbian said that, unlike personal computers, it was not possible to penetrate the software of its smartphones without approval. "But we can never say it's not going to be possible. Smartphones have been designed... as open, programmable networked devices," he said, adding that users should be careful before accepting to install new software.

In view of this development, could the existence of a malicious, handphone crippling worm be too far behind??

06-16-2004, 11:31 PM	#1
faie Member Posts: 10 Karma: 30 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Malaysia Device: TH55/T610	World's First Mobile Virus I remember getting hoaxes via e-mail about mobile phone viruses a few years back. Well, here comes the real thing: According to Reuters, a group of underground virus writers has showed off what is believed to be the world's first worm, named Cabir, that can spread on advanced mobile phones. However, security software companies say the virus had no malicious code attached. This is the first version of a network worm which propagates via mobile phones. The worm is designed to work in smartphones running on Symbian and Series 60 software, Symantec said on its Web site. Nokia, however, was not immediately available to comment. The worm is not regarded as dangerous because even if it spreads it carries no code that destroys files or executes other damaging operations, the security software firms said. The virus attempts to jump from phone to phone by using the handset's wireless short-range Bluetooth connection. It scans the environment for other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Once it has found one, it sends itself disguised as a security file. The file must be accepted by the mobile phone owner and then installed before it can propagate. A spokesman at London-based technology firm Symbian said that, unlike personal computers, it was not possible to penetrate the software of its smartphones without approval. "But we can never say it's not going to be possible. Smartphones have been designed... as open, programmable networked devices," he said, adding that users should be careful before accepting to install new software. In view of this development, could the existence of a malicious, handphone crippling worm be too far behind??