First mobile 'phone virus unleashed

lightnix

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First mobile \'phone virus unleashed

According to today's London (UK) Evening Standard software security experts have discovered the world's first mobile 'phone virus.

It's a worm called Cabir and you'll know if you've been infected if the word "Caribe" appears on the screen of your Bluetooth mobile when you power it up. It targets only Symbian operating systems running Bluetooth and mainly affects Nokia Series 60 'phones, although other mobiles using the Nokia Series 60 development platform, including those made by Panasonic, Samsung, Sendo and Siemens, along with other Bluetooth devices (such as Palmtops) can also be infected.

An infected 'phone will scan for other Bluetooth 'phones and, on detecting one, will transfer the virus as a .SIS file, much like a business card. The worm executes when the recipient 'phone is next powered up.

The virus does not cause any damage, but will run the battery down faster through constant scanning and may be used in future as a starting point for other viruses. It is believed by software security firms to be intended as a proof of concept, to show that Bluetooth devices are vulnerable. The only thing really limiting it's spread is Bluetooth's 10m range. Software experts are surprised by this development, having expected the 'phone company networks to be used as a means of spreading mobile 'phone viruses.

Thank God for my four year old Nokia 6210.
 
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