Mobile worm could be just the start

Businesses have been urged to press mobile phone operators to disclose what steps they are taking to secure 3G phones and PDAs, following the appearance of a mobile phone virus last week. The Cabir virus, the first to propagate from phone to phone using Bluetooth short-range wireless technology, attacks phones running the Symbian operating system used by Nokia and other manufacturers. Although the virus has not been released on the internet, it demonstrates that businesses are likely to face new security risks when the next generation of mobile phones and PDAs is released.

Sal Viveros, virus expert at Network Associates, advised firms to press phone companies to put security measures in place to protect mobile devices.

"At this point, end-users need to make sure that whatever devices operators are working on, they will be secure. Unless users start asking for security, it is not going to be at the top of suppliers' lists. They should at least make sure that networks are protected from viruses and malicious hackers," he said.

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