Better security for mobile phones

Chipmaker Texas Instruments and chip designer ARM are working together to beef up security for handhelds following the emergence of the first virus to target cell phones. Dave Steer, ARM director of segment marketing, said the two companies, both dominant suppliers and designers of cell phone chips, are "burying the security into the hardware" where it's tougher to get at. Cell phones are typically secured by software that encrypts subscriber identity or the unique ID number of the phone. But increasingly savvy cell phone hackers have turned these once tight security measures into loopholes.

Because ID numbers are used as security gates for cell phone services, they can compromise customer accounts if they fall into the wrong hands. Cell phone hacking is a problem in Europe, for example, where thieves steal phones, change the phone identification number, then resell them after filling them up with pre-paid phone minutes.

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