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'Metal Gear' Symbian OS Trojan Disables Anti-Virus

Posted by timothy on from the phone-might-be-short-the-right-video-card-too dept.

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."

13 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Oh Great.. by Renraku · · Score: 5, Funny

    So now I need tin foil for my cell phone, too.

    Well, I don't really have a cell phone, but if I did..I'd need tin foil for it.

    --
    Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
    1. Re:Oh Great.. by snorklewacker · · Score: 5, Informative

      Bluetooth is normally off by default. Even if it's on, it's going to prompt you multiple times if an unknown device tries to connect -- once to establish the connection, again to receive anything, then you have to explicitly open the attachment and go through yet another warning about installing software. Spreading via bluetooth is probably more effective via trusted paired devices. my gf and I have 6600's and we have them paired so we can share pictures more or less instantly. So if for some reason one of our phones got this worm, then it would transmit to the other phone pretty much silently -- still wouldn't auto-install though.

      In other words, if you have a brain, you're safe. Watch out for bluesnarf attacks though, which can read all your data off your phone if you have an older bluetooth stack.

      --
      I am no longer wasting my time with slashdot
  2. more! by Prophet+of+Nixon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just want an unstoppable cell-phone virus that permanently disables ringing... then I could cope with the things being about.

  3. Since no one has done it yet... by JossiRossi · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Oh look a Metal Gear Port.. horray downloading..."
    "Dude you're cell.. it's dying I think..."
    "Snake? SNAKE?! SSSSSNNNNAAAAAKKKKEEEEEE!!!!!!"

    --
    Just a boy doing unproffesional IT work that's way above his head.
  4. Stop the press! by sjofi · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

  5. The phone have started to move! by GlueyPorchBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Any real fan of the series would be expecting a set-up, anyway.

  6. Re:And this is unexpected? by UWC · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  7. Re:All I have to say by timmyf2371 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    You want a calculator? Buy a calculator.
    You want a text editor? Buy a dedicated word processor.
    You want to watch DVDs or other media? Buy a DVD player.
    You want to send an e-mail? Buy a dedicated e-mailer.

    So, based upon your way of thinking I'm assuming your above post was made via a WebTV or similar dedicated Internet-only terminal, right?

    --

    Backup not found: (A)bort (R)etry (P)anic
  8. MG by justforaday · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess I should expect to see people staring at their phones going "Snake? SSSSNNNNAAAAAAKKKKEEEEEE!!!!"

    --
    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
  9. Re:Communicator by Ironsides · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When Latest windoze worm announced:
    Does anyone ever thing of hitting the off button on there cable/DSL modem?

    If you use it, you leave it on. If you don't use it, you may not even know it is there.

    --
    Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
  10. I am by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  11. Its not just my phone! by bluGill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  12. Anti-virus software means it wasn't safe by kindbud · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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