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Mabir.A Virus Targets Symbian Phones

Posted by timothy on from the what's-a-good-synonym-for-malice dept.

adennis writes "Exploiting bluetooth and weaknesses in the OS, the Mabir.A virus, like its predecessor, targets the version of the Symbian operating system running on Nokia Series 60 handsets. Since Symbian is the dominant smartphone OS, found on phones made by Motorola, Siemens, Sony Ericsson Panasonic and Nokia, this virus could have great impact. Will mobile OS companies, like desktop OS makers, have to start an automatic update system, or will the OS creators have to start making their software secure?"

6 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Same thing? by soniCron88 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Will mobile OS companies, like desktop OS makers, have to start an automatic update system, or will the OS creators have to start making their software secure?

    Wouldn't an automatic update system serve to make the software more secure?

    --
    Digital Sailor
    1. Re:Same thing? by ManikSurtani · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yep, pretty much, except that I believe the author meant that s/ware should be written with security in mind from the outset.

      On a different note, what I'd loathe to see (but may be inevitable) are goddamn antivirus programs for phones. Imagine those things updating their virus dbs, etc. every time you switch on your phone...

      --
      -- Manik Surtani
  2. Remember when viruses were cool? by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There was a time when a virus could install itself just be latching onto a 3.5" disk boot sector and infect tons of machines without anyone having the slightest clue as to its existence.

    Nowadays, viruses are so pussified that they need to ask the machine owner to install them. How sad.

  3. Well, I'm not impressed by KonijnenBunny · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I own a Nokia 60-series phone and much to my surprise I encountered the above mentioned predecessor (Caribe/Cabir) in the wild. (Yep, my bluetooth's always on)
    I received over 20 identical messages by Bluetooth messaging, all containing a single application-installation file: caribe.sis I had to approve the reception of the message first before I could view the contents. As I browsed the message contents, a further warning that it contained an application was issued, and I image the standard "not-signed" warning would as well if I'd try to actually install it.

    That's 3 warnings I would have to ignore before the virus is installed. Surely in this day and age anyone's brains would have kicked in and wonder whether it would be a wise idea to install an unknown program sent to you by an anonymous stranger? Mobile-phone virii are all still very proof-of-concept in my book...

  4. Re:Want a surefire solution?? I have the answer. by imipak · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Want a surefire solution?? I have the answer. [...] And it ain't pretty. Death penalty for virus writers.

    What a great idea. I'm sure this will work just as effectively as the USA executing alleged murderers - brutal as it sounds, it has at least reduced the murder rate to one of the lowest in the world.

  5. Another FUD from F-Secure by S3D · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This theme is beat to death. So called "virus" require answer "Yes" three times to be installed. The most vocal reporter of these viruses is F-Secure, manufacturer of anti-virus software for symbian phones. Their CEO speaking on one of the previous virus: "somehow, I'm not sure exactly how this virus get installed on my phone" He did't remember answering "Yes" three times ?