Norton Warns of Smartphone Virus

[Guest dodding nonkey]

Bearing in mind that this was issued by the people who make a fortune out of selling anti-virus software it may be worthy of note. Problem is, if the malicious b*&^%$ who create viruses (virii? ':)' ) read this, will they go out and try to do it?

Read article here

[Guest bretto]

Now that sucks! Our devices are already slow enough without adding anti-virus software which wil slow them down even more.

Nortons anti-virus on my PC already detected that the copy svp-pacman that I downloaded from somewhere might contain spyware. Might have been just a miss identification too but just incase its gone now.

The little pricks who spent their time creating viruses need to be strung up by the nads! After all they are always the first to crack a little hissy fit when something happens to their computer.

[Guest Maxrom]

I have to say, I find the thought of a/v software for phones mildy amusing considering how many people run their phones de-certified, and install applications from the web.

While I'm sure there will at some point be some vulnerability that allows cretins to write viruses that can propagate using phones that are still application locked, I think the biggest concern should be the installation of trojan software on unlocked devices. Trust in the person authoring the software is the only guarantee you have when you download applications to run on an application unlocked phone. It would be incredibly easy for someone to distribute software over the web that claims to perform some function, but in the background, have it sending SMS messages, connecting to services over GPRS, or doing any manner of things.

A/V software to track viruses on locked devices that spread over some security vullnerabilities may be worth looking into if the need ever arises, but they are going to provide little to no protection over trojan software. Sounds to me it's more like Norton are attempting to scare users into spending more money on A/V when it's really not going to help that much.

If you're concerned about the safety of your phone, dont application unlock it, and dont install uncertified software. If you have a locked phone with a vulnerability, notify your provider, and hope for a swift firmware update. If you've money to burn, and want to slow your phone, grab some A/V software. Personally, I wouldnt waste my time - I use an application unlocked phone, and I install homebrew applications on it. It's a risk I choose to take, and I hope that the majority of developers take pride in their work, and are honest individuals who'd be as disgusted with this sort of activity as I would be.

Edited September 10, 2005 by Maxrom

[Guest usdiver]

I've asked around when I got into smatphones and even again last year and have been told that symbian is the largest target for these smartphone viruses. I have a c500, unlocked but not app unlocked, nor decertified. I have heard of a virus scanner called airscanner but have not needed it (fortunately). I think some of this may be a ploy for norton to make extra money, but do know that once you get a virus it isn't nice. For now, it seems they aren't worried about smartphones operating windows but who knows about tomorrow. As technology advances, there will always someone out there who has to be a pain in the a** and try to screw it up for everyone. On the other side of that, we get others, who try and be a step ahead, thus creating better, smarter products. I thought I had "the phone" when I got my c500, now I see imate's sp5m with edge and wifi....and I'm seeing phones with tv functionality. I must say I'm well impressed, and also need to get my hands on a sp5m when possible. There will continue to be better and faster and smarter things out there to grab our attention. What I would say is first, DON'T run out and spend your money on a/v software you may not need...but be careful what you download, and install...as well as look at on the net. 2. Shop around, should you need to get this software. If the threat is that great, don't you think there would be loads of companies developing products to suit our needs? And just a little note: I have no problems with any a/v software company, but I believe the 3 main ones are Norton/ Symantec, McAfee, and Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm, though not well know in this country...is in my opinion one of the better ones, and is userfriendly as well as offering very good security from many threats. Best of all, it can be purchased online from here for little money. To each his own, but I highly recommend it. I've had all three, and currently use Norton, along side of zone alarm. I don't need both, but have found that Zone alarm has actually caught things that norton has not, plus zone alarm also offers great spyware protection on the home pc. Sorry to go off topic, but I would thing that if the threat was that serious, more than one company would be pushing to sell it.

[Guest Geeklord]

a few months ago there was a thread about an anti virus app for the smartphone. it ignited a fairly controversial debate on why anyone would release an anti virus if there weren't any virii yet... unless they were planning to release the virus as well.

after a while, most of the debators agreed that (at the time) there weren't any virii around for the smartphone.

I guess there is always the possibility of someone creating one for the smartphone, but as with our pcs we can take measures to never let these get on our phones. And in the event that they do, Modaco will be there to come up with a cure.

[Guest James]

its says:-

'Which devices are being targeted?

PDAs (personal digital assistants) which operate under Windows CE or Palm OS, and "smartphones", using Symbian as the operating system, are the main targets of these viruses. '

i am not that worried at present... browser hijack on pocket ie? :o

[Guest PaulT]

....Problem is, if the malicious b*&^%$ who create viruses (virii? ':)' )

You were right first time, the plural of virus is viruses, there is no such word as virii.

You'd think that Norton, McAfee and so on would include a PDA/Smartphone scanner with their anti-virus packages. They certainly used to as at one time I had one that would scan my winCE device but perhaps they realised that they could make more money by selling it separately.

[Guest kurtfhouse]

I use a free A/V program called Avast.

I find it pretty good, it updates itself with the latest viruses evrytime I power up the computer and has caught more then a few viruses when I have been downloading of the net.

I did have Norton 2005 but it kept freezing up and it slowed my machine down too much so I got rid of it.

[Guest nevawlkalone]

I use a free A/V program called Avast.

I find it pretty good, it updates itself with the latest viruses evrytime I power up the computer and has caught more then a few viruses when I have been downloading of the net.

I did have Norton 2005 but it kept freezing up and it slowed my machine down too much so I got rid of it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Am using Airscanner Av at the moments, it does the job, just set it up to auto scan at a preset date. It fantastic!!!!!

And best of all IT FREE for both PPC AND Smartphone!!!!!

:o :( :lol: :P :D :D :D :D :D

[Guest chucky.egg]

Am using Airscanner Av at the moments, it does the job, just set it up to auto scan at a preset date. It fantastic!!!!!

It's fantastic?

How much system resource does it use?

How many viruses has it protected you from?

[Guest TigerNet]

You were right first time, the plural of virus is viruses, there is no such word as virii.

You'd think that Norton, McAfee and so on would include a PDA/Smartphone scanner with their anti-virus packages. They certainly used to as at one time I had one that would scan my winCE device but perhaps they realised that they could make more money by selling it separately.

...although interesting article here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plural_of_virus

...sad I know... :o

Cheers

Nick

[Guest nevawlkalone]

It's fantastic?

How much system resource does it use?

How many viruses has it protected you from?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dunno how many it has stopped coz it runs at something like 2.00 in the morning but it has stopped a few, most of them just slow my phone up n things like that!!

It not a big app, it does the job n i dont have to do anything, just remember to leave my phone on, on a sunday night!!!!!

[Guest usdiver]

If I might ask, where do you get airscanner from? Does it not slow down the phone? I have the c500. thanks.

[Guest James]

look here mate:-

http://www.airscanner.com

[Guest peekie]

you can bet norton will relese a smartphone application soon , i always wonder if some of the virus releases are not made by companys like norton to force people to buy thier software , as they seem to have the solution very quickly , normally on the day the virus comes out :|

[Guest usdiver]

thanks for that...I'll have to give it a shot

[Guest markgamber]

you can bet norton will relese a smartphone application soon , i always wonder if some of the virus releases are not made by companys like norton to force people to buy thier software , as they seem to have the solution very quickly , normally on the day the virus comes out  :|

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nah, I think they'd get in a *hell* of a lot of trouble if they got caught (it's happened already, more than once) and they do have some smart people working for them. I think the whole idea, however, is utterly ridiculous. In the first place, what is a virus going to do with the screaming 9600 baud connection on my phone? With that whole 5 or 6 mb of free memory on a good day? On a device that probably takes less time to hard reset and set back up than it takes to run an antivirus scan on it? Not to say some dweeb with more free time than common sense and brains won't write one, but it's about as pointless as that dweeb's life. The day I have to *seriously* consider running antivirus crap on my phone will be the same day I buy a six function nokia and never touch a smartphone again. I've already got a computer if I want endless problems with viruses.

[Guest TigerNet]

...anyone found a simple way yet to stop the av software running on WM5? (Preferably without hard reset)

Cheers

Nick

[Guest GuyAdams]

I all would not be 100% reliant on the lack of viruses for Windows Mobile products.

An old article which I read sometime ago from a very reputable company who wrote a demonstration virus for Windows CE:

http://news.bitdefender.com/NW102-en--Proo...crosoft-OS.html

This proves that Windows Mobile will be at risk in the 'not so distant' future.

Just as all Microsoft platforms, it is vulnerable not through fault of Microsoft but through the companies shear size. It’s a massive target for virus writers and hackers alike.

Regards

GuyAdams

[Guest monkeygadge]

Do you think Norton will be nice and let the current users of N/A get the smartphone version for free?? :roll:

[Guest monkeygadge]

Dunno how many it has stopped coz it runs at something like 2.00 in the morning but it has stopped a few, most of them just slow my phone up n things like that!!

It not a big app, it does the job n i dont have to do anything, just remember to leave my phone on, on a sunday night!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How did you manage to schedule it for 2AM??

Forget it - I'm a dumbass - the scheduler is a different app!!! :roll:

Edited October 18, 2005 by monkeygadge

[Guest thegoods12188]

lol wow........