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Majority of Mobile Malware Now Reliant On Toll Fraud

Posted by timothy on from the reverse-the-charges-operator dept.

CowboyRobot writes "Spyware is no longer the primary concern with unwanted software on mobile devices. According to mobile security firm Lookout, most mobile malware performs 'toll fraud' — billing victims using premium SMS services. The problem is very geographically-dependent, worst in areas with weak SMS regulation, particularly China, Ukraine, and Russia, where users are 10,000 times more likely to have malware on their phones than users in Japan, for example. Other risks include mobile ads surreptitiously uploading personal data, as well as apps that download other malware without users knowing. The full report is available."

3 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. But... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But... But... You cant have regulations, you have to let the Free Market....

    Thank god i live in a socialist hellhole where when this crap started to spring up it got massively stomped on by regulating the crap out of it.

  2. Why do we even need a system for premium rate SMS? by PSVMOrnot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, why do we even need a system which lets people charge arbitrary ammounts via SMS? It's insecure, ripe for abuse and open to fraud. I don't think I have ever seen it used for a beneficial purpose, except perhaps for charity donations which could just as easily be done via another system.

    So, why not just shut the thing down? Or, heck just limit it to registered charities; it's not like anyone else uses it but those who prey on the weak (rip off custom ringtone companies, horoscope peddlers and malware)

  3. Only prepaid SIM cards for me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm working as a programmer since nearly 20 years and I just love technology. I use Linux as a desktop since the early days of Slackware, back when it took quite a leap of faith.

    My cellphone? An iPhone... With a prepaid SIM card!

    That way I'm sure that: a) I'll spend way less than any "plan" (master plan one could say ; ) any operator could come up with and b) no malware / premium SMS service / crazy app/site eating my 3G bandwith can never "eat" more than the data limit available on my prepaid card.