This was bound to happen sooner or later.
The first ever computer virus spread by mobile phones has been sent to anti-virus firms.
No infections have been reported and the worm is harmless but it is proof that mobiles are at risk from virus writers.
The worm, known as Cabir, infects phones and devices running the Symbian operating system.
Anti-virus firms are divided on whether it will open the floodgate to similar viruses.
I lean more towards “yes” on the floodgate question, but I’ll be happy to be proven wrong. Via Rafe Colburn.
UPDATE: Simson Garfinkel thinks this is a big deal.
Apres, Le Deluge?
Charles Kuffner thinks that the cell phone virus diagnosis probably signals an epidemic to come. I don’t know about this. Virus makers aren’t all chaotic-evil in alignment; plenty of viruses target specific systems for specific reasons. You could say t…
My biggest surprise was the operating system they chose to hack. Symbian, not Microsoft.
As to floodgates, I side with you Kuff. Spammed pr0n texting at 0300 – I can’t wait.
As phones become more like personal computers they are going to become a bigger target. Combine this with little or no security and they are the perfect froma hackers point of view.