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'Metal Gear' Symbian OS Trojan Disables Anti-Virus
Omniscientist writes "Just when you thought your Series 60 smartphones were safe, a trojan has surfaced with a two-pronged attack that also in turn disables any anti-virus protection available. Infosyncworld has news about a trojan masquerading itself as a port for the Metal Gear game that disables all anti-virus software on the phone and other necessary utilities like file managers. Also, it affects other phones nearby it via Bluetooth. This trojan has been dubbed 'Metal Gear.a,' quite aptly."
HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
... so how do they justify the hike? Oh they add in Java, cameras, ring tones, etc... You want a toy? Buy a gameboy. A phone should be phone.
This is what you get for making a phone "more than a phone".
Well that and price gouging. For example, a "quad-band GSM" phone often cells for $300 more than the average dual-band. However, going quad-band is mostly a small change in terms of the radio/hardware as it's just off by 50Mhz [e.g. the SWR won't be that high].
Hahahahahahaha
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
So don't panic too much about the Bluetooth infection method. When something truly independent like Code Red can spread via Bluetooth, that's when people will start leaving their mobiles at home. Hang on, there's an idea...maybe I can sell it to rail passengers and restaurant customers and make $$$$?
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
Does anyone ever think of hitting the off button on there bluetooth?
You can install a program on your computer that does bad things. Also on your Symbian mobile phone if you really really want to and decide to discard multiple warning messages.
Embedded MS crap... I guess this is a troll. Regardless, Series 60 phones don't have any "MS crap" to my knowledge. The OS is Symbian, which has been putting out a good mobile OS for years (I had a Diamond Mako--rebranded Psion Revo Plus--PDA thing that I loved until the nonreplaceable battery crapped out far sooner than it should have). Sun's Java is also installed on Series 60 phones. Unless Bluetooth is somehow MS-related, you're either completely misinformed or trolling. The AC status of the post indicates the latter, I guess.
Honor Among Slackers. A veri
Funny, I do want those features, just because you don't doesn't mean no phone should have them. You can still buy phones that do pretty much nothing useful other than being a phone, I reccommend you buy one of them; I'll buy one with a calender and games (since that's what I want).
I spent ages trying to think of sig, but never did
Actually, I'm laughing pretty hard at the thought people don't know you can disable bluetooth on phones.
I only turn mine on when I'm synching with something or using it as a data connection with my laptop.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
That's awesome, but I wish these guys would put their brainpower and idle time towards something more productive, like OSS software development.
The problem is that much of what needs to be done is boring and/or unchallenging. Some folks program because they like to solve problems, the "journey", not because they have a strong commitment to a project, the "destination". In the OSS world there are lots of people who would like to work on the interesting things and if they cannot they are more likely to not contribute than go work on the boring parts. Commercial software has an advantage here, do the drudgery, collect a paycheck. The solution: more donations, less "free beer", that fund programmers to work on the boring stuff.
I have to disagree. My cell phone is more than my phone. It is a device that I carry with me for many purposes. Sure I get calls on it, but that isn't the most important thing I use it for.
My main use for it turns out to be a clock that isn't uncomfortable to wear (I hate things on my wrist).
It also has some simple games good for keeping me entertained while waiting for the waiter to bring my order. (this is slashdot, of course I don't know any girls to eat with)
It is a handy kitchen timer that I can hear even when I'm at the other end of the house. The phone is on me, not the stove.
There is a useful calender that reminds me when important events come up. (A pain to enter them)
There is a calculator for times when I need to deal with more digits than I can remember at one time. I wish it has hex and graphics functions, but it works.
There is a camera attachment. Sure the pictures are poor, but it works, and I'm more likely to have this with me than a fancy camera.
All this, rolled into one tiny 1.5x4x.75 (inch) device.
Just when you thought your Series 60 smartphones were safe, a trojan has surfaced ... that disables all anti-virus software...
If the things need anti-virus software, they were never safe to begin with.
Edith Keeler Must Die
For a bunch of self defined "nerds" people here sure have a problem with high tech phones. I guess they have never wanted to look something up on google in the car, or connect their laptop to the internet wirelessly, check their email, or take a picture of something funny or important.
My nokia 6600 is awesome, gets great battery life, and reminds me when i am supposed to be places. Bluetooth lets me transfer information from my laptop to it, such as contact and calendar events.
It has revolutionized the way I use my cell phone,
If all you want to do is talk on the phone, thats fine, but as a bunch of nerds you must see how the smart cell phone is the future. Oh yeah, it never drops calls either.