WHAT IS MOBILE VIRUS AND
ANTI VIRUS SOFTWARE
What’s a mobile phone virus?
A mobile phone virus or mobile malware - malicious mobile
software - is a computer virus specifically adapted for the mobile phone
environment and designed to spread from one vulnerable phone to another.
A virus is a program code that replicates by being copied to
another program. Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an email or in a
download file. Some viruses take effect as soon as their code is executed;
other viruses can lie dormant. A virus that replicates by resending itself as
an email attachment or as a part of a network message is known as a worm.
Viruses can range from benign to quite harmful; they can
erase data from the infected phone or send fake messages purporting to be from
the phones owner. How prevalent are mobile phone viruses? The current security
risk from mobile phone viruses and worms is low.
Until many more smart phones or PDAs are in use, and users
of these phones are regularly exchanging executable files, the risk will remain
low. The mobile industry takes the threat of viruses very seriously and is
continually monitoring its networks and working to protect users from any
future risk from mobile phone viruses. There are also some simple measures that
individual users can implement to protect themselves.
What can I do to protect my phone?
The following tips can help prevent problems with viruses on
your phone:
1. Switch to Bluetooth hidden mode. If your phone has
Bluetooth capability, ensure that the Bluetooth capability is switched to
hidden or invisible mode unless you specifically need it to be visible. This
will help prevent other Bluetooth-enabled devices from finding your phone
(unless you grant them the necessary permission) and will therefore help
protect your phone from worms that spread using the Bluetooth wireless
technology.
2. Exercise caution before opening attachments. When
accepting applications sent via Bluetooth, or opening MMS attachments, exercise
caution, just as you would when opening an email attachment on your PC, because
they may include harmful software. Ensure the application or attachment comes
from a known source, and is wary of opening files that have unfamiliar text
attached to them, even if they come from someone you know.
3. Only download content from a trusted source. Trusted
sources may include operator portals and other well-known brands that offer
adequate protection against viruses and other harmful software. Be aware though
that, as with emails, malicious or fraudulent users may be able to fake the
appearance of a trusted source.
4. Consider anti-virus software. Some software is available
to prevent phone viruses. You may wish to consider downloading this software.
5. Contact your phone manufacturer if concerned. If you
think you have a virus, call the phone manufacturer’s care line. They can
assist you confirm if it is a virus, and help fix the problem.
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