MyMobiSafe.com Official Mobile Security Antivirus Solutions Blog
This blog is managed/edited by Eric Everson, Founder of MyMobiSafe.com. The purpose of this blog is to discuss common threats and solutions that exist within the mobile community.
Thank you for taking the time to review my blog, I am Eric Everson and I am a mobile application developer and self-proclaimed mobile threat hunter. I also manage a blog at MySpace which serves as a journal regarding my startup venture of MyMobiSafe.com available at http://blog.myspace.com/mymobisafe.
Monday 4 June 2007, 7:36 PM
Cell Phone Viruses: What? Those Really Exist?
Cell Phone Viruses: What? Those Really Exist?
By: Eric Everson, Founder of MyMobiSafe.com
It amazes me how often I get surprised reactions from people that have no idea threats are out there targeting cell phones. The common response, as you have likely guessed from the title of this entry “What? Those Really Exist?” Though I hate to be the bearer of bad news, mobile threats are increasing at an alarming rate. The days have passed when only those with Bluetooth capabilities built into their phones are the only mobile users at risk. At MyMobiSafe.com, as we continue to uncover increasing numbers of mobile viruses it makes us shutter to think about how many mobile users will fall victim to their fury. The scariest element of a viral attack is the interconnectivity that mobile phones have.
Consider the popularity of cell phones these days, as we keep them so close to us that they have practically become part of the human anatomy. Cell phones are integrated into every aspect of the working world and frighteningly there is a vulnerability to the industry that few ever consider. The interconnectivity of cell phones is at epic levels, which makes every mobile user a potential victim of a mobile threat. Consider how many other people’s cell number you have got in your contacts list and now considering the other 800 million cell phone users in the world think about how interconnected we all are. I think the last number I read was that the average number of contacts in person’s cell phone was around 30. Thirty seems like a relatively small number of contacts considering the working persons contacts, but nonetheless we will call it 30 for all practical purposes.
Let’s take those 30 contacts on your cell phone list and assume that at least one of them is hip to technology and uses the functionality of their mobile phone to access any number of growing mobile content portals. The person might download video, games, or music and unbeknownst to them they are opening a cell phone virus. Your first thought might be, better their phone than mine! On the contrary however, by the time you finish reading this sentence you will know that the majority new mobile threats distribute themselves through a phones contacts before causing any harm to the infected handset. Here you are now, completely oblivious to the fact that your contact has lost everything on their phone and as you always would you open that text message that they sent you. Yes, that text message that looks like it is from your friend is really a text-Trojan virus about to take out everyone you hold dear on your contacts list.
I hope that if nothing else through this blog entry that I have at least stuck the idea of mobile security and the importance of a mobile antivirus into your head. We have solutions available to protect all mobiles at MyMobiSafe.com, but I am not writing this to advertise but merely to shed enlightenment throughout the mobile community. I hope that you will continue to follow my blog to learn more about mobile security… because YES! Those really do exist. Thanks for reading.
Eric Everson, Founder
MyMobiSafe.com
PreviousComments on this post
I have been intrigued in your various postings on the subject of mobile viruses but I would be interested in views from other users.
I remain far from convinced about the 'real' threat of mobile virus infection. An expert at Sophos recently described (in an IT Week article) the risk of mobile viruses as 'a raindrop in a thunderstorm' and another article I read recently described the specific risk of PDA infection was 'extremely remote'. Far more dangerous is the vulnerability of the information on these devices when they are lost or left unattended, particularly given the increasing use of mobile applications. It goes without saying that mobile devices are left in cabs, trains etc.. and these devices are now holding more and more information - posing as great a risk as laptop theft or loss.
Moreover, I am yet to meet anyone who has been affected by a mobile virus and all of the hype around the risk has been generated by companies with a vested interest - always a dangerous indicator.
Hence I would be fascinated to hear other experiences to support or challenge this view.
Thanks for your reply. What makes your “raindrop” analogy interesting is the interconnectivity that mobile devices have (i.e. office networks, mobile banking, extensive mobile contacts lists) in today’s mobile world. I can assure you from personal experience that the risk is not merely hyperbole. I foresee that it is the lack of regard for mobile security by so many “experts” that should know better the powers of the hacker that will lead to the “thunderstorm” that is brewing. The U.S. FBI recently issued a release referring to the world’s vulnerability regarding mobile security. One could invest in mobile security now while it can still be called a raindrop or one could stand like an ostrich with their head in the sand until the lightning knocks them dead in their tracks. I tell people this, if you transmit information that is important to you or your business you should definitely consider increasing your mobile security. Consider this, it might not be a “virus” that gets you, but there are some prying eyes out there with some illicit jacking scripts. Jacking scripts transmit a collection of information (contacts/keystrokes, other data) to a central location which can then be sifted, shared, and otherwise distributed. So does mobile banking still seem safe without increasing your mobile security?
