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First Destructive Mobile Phone Virus In The Wild

Posted by timothy on from the radio-silence dept.

gbjbaanb writes "eek! the BBC is reporting the first mobile phone virus that causes damage is out and about. The virus only works with the Symbian Series 60's OS (no, not the Smartphone) and spreads through an adapted copy of the legitimate Mosquitos game. Once installed, a hidden program sends SMS texts to premium rate numbers. That's not so bad, no doubt the premium rate numbers will be switched off soon but the worst is yet to come - "typically we see them in the wild then copycat ones come along soon after," said Sal Viveros, director of wireless security at McAfee."

4 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. The Reg has already debunked this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/11/mosquitos_ malware_myth/

  2. Not true, actually copy protection mechanism by lonely · · Score: 0, Redundant


    See the reg:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/11/mosquito s_ malware_myth/

    Move along nothing to see here!

  3. This Isn't Malware, It's Copy Protection! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    This wasn't actually included in "an adapted copy", as it originates directly from the legitimate copy of the game, as described in the following article.

    Mosquitos smartphone 'Trojan' there by design (Register)
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/1 1/mosquitos_ malware_myth/

  4. good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    cel phones are for communications, not for playing games.