Skul 0 Posted June 16, 2004 Quote[/b] ]A group of underground virus writers has showed off what is believed to be the world's first worm that can spread on advanced mobile phones, but security software companies say the virus had no malicious code attached.The worm, named Cabir, was sent to security software firms Kapersky Lab of Russia and U.S.-based Symantec by a member of 29a, a group of virus writers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia who pride themselves in creating "proof of concept malicious viruses", Kapersky Labs spokesman Denis Zenkin said. "This is the very first version of a network worm which propagates via mobile phones," he said on Wednesday. The worm is designed to work in smartphones running on Symbian and Series 60 software, Symantec said on its Web site. This software is used to power millions of Nokia phones, such as the popular 6600 model. Nokia 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. Mobile viruses will become more dangerous when they can spread without human intervention, said Matias Impivaara, business manager for mobile security services at Finnish security software firm F-Secure. "The main (turning) point will be when the virus-writing community knows the software well enough... to find holes," he said. "The information about the (Symbian) operating system is very close to the hands of the virus writers.... (Cabir) could be a trigger to start developing these ideas earlier." 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. This is pretty alarming considering the majority of the Western population uses mobile phones. Do you think we should be worried? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
void_false 1 Posted June 16, 2004 i heard about something similar about 1.5 years ago. and i dont worry because i use motorola, not nokia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gollum1 0 Posted June 16, 2004 Nokia is the best by far, but I have a crappy Siemens C45. Motorolas can't even be compared to those two, they're so far behind in development. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theavonlady 2 Posted June 16, 2004 I'm not worried because I use a dumb phone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wilco 944 Posted June 16, 2004 I use the phones that are attached to the telephone line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
void_false 1 Posted June 16, 2004 Quote[/b] ]Nokia is the best by far, but I have a crappy Siemens C45. Motorolas can't even be compared to those two, they're so far behind in development. ah.. so u among those kiddies that fight to prove that their "tube" is cooler than other ones? Mobile phone is supposed to call and not to make shyte as capture video, play music, fly you to space and whatever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badgerboy 0 Posted June 16, 2004 Anyone who installs a file that is sent to them anonymously, then ignores the 2 security alerts that flash up saying the source is not trusted, frankly deserves everything they get. This only effects Symbian OS's it seems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
