Cellphone viruses threaten SA
2006-12-01 21:24
Johannesburg - Three cellphone viruses are threatening SA users who might have to spend lots of money to get rid of them.
Anina Steele, spokesperson for anti-virus specialists Symantec, warned that the viruses could make cellphones slower, could overwrite programmes and delete them, even preventing the phones from switching on.
Viruses could even send SMS or MMS messages by themselves (on the user's account), could copy personal information and destroy functions on the phone.
Cellphone viruses are known either as worms or trojans and are spread largely via bluetooth technology and MMSs. The viruses can also infect one's computer through wireless technology.
According to virusalert.com, there are about 31 virus families and 170 variants able to do this kind of damage and that there is an increase in cellphone viruses.
The bad news was that the more technologically advanced the phone was, the more vulnerable it was to viruses.
The so-called Smartphone, a combination of a cellphone and a digital diary, was for instance, one of the main targets for viruses aiming to steal or delete information.
Steele and Brian Seligman from MTN said such malicious viruses had not yet been found in SA, but there was certainly a danger that they could spread locally.
The three viruses that had been found locally were two worms called Cabir and Commwarrior, and one trojan called Skulls.
The viruses targeted more advanced phones, like the Nokia which had a OS Symbian 60 operating system and worked with bluetooth technology.
A Nokia staffer on Friday gave the assurance that Nokia had the technology to fight such viruses.