If you don't use Bluetooth, IR, transfer files to your phone from your PC, install unsigned third party applications, surf the web from your phone or ever receive MMS from anyone then you definitely don't need a mobile anti-virus solution. Even if you do some of this then getting a mobile anti-virus solution probably shouldn't be on the top of your shopping list. But the more of these you do and the more frequently you do them then the more that getting some sort of mobile anti-virus protection starts to become a sensible idea.
Agreed, the network is the best and most efficient place to deal with mobile viruses.
Unfortunately Symbian devices don't just connect via the network but also peer to peer (via Bluetooth, IR, cable etc). Obviously a network scanner is no use in relation to a virus bluetoothed from one phone to another. This is the reason that both a network and handset based solution is necessary.
Well that's the beauty of the free market - no one phone will suit everyone. They can make fancy potentially vulnerable phones for those that one them and simpler less functional phones for those that don't. Bottom line, if you don't think a phone needs a web browser, IM, email etc, get a cheapy that doesn't.
Absolutely correct - many mobile viruses are spread via MMS, all of which are routed through operators networks and accordingly able to be scanned and stopped by operators. Not that most operators do this yet.
Of course, Symbian phones are pretty much the most promiscous things out there - they are not only able to connect via the network (which can be scanned by the operator) but also peer to peer (via Bluetooth, IR, or cable to PC, and eventually wifi and who knows what). Which is why a both a network and a handset based solution is necessary.
It shouldn't affect battery life - I use SimWorks Anti-Virus (disclaimer - I work for SimWorks) and while it constantly monitors incoming traffic we have not been able to measure any decrease in battery life.
Slashdot Mirror
If you don't use Bluetooth, IR, transfer files to your phone from your PC, install unsigned third party applications, surf the web from your phone or ever receive MMS from anyone then you definitely don't need a mobile anti-virus solution. Even if you do some of this then getting a mobile anti-virus solution probably shouldn't be on the top of your shopping list. But the more of these you do and the more frequently you do them then the more that getting some sort of mobile anti-virus protection starts to become a sensible idea.
Agreed, the network is the best and most efficient place to deal with mobile viruses.
Unfortunately Symbian devices don't just connect via the network but also peer to peer (via Bluetooth, IR, cable etc). Obviously a network scanner is no use in relation to a virus bluetoothed from one phone to another. This is the reason that both a network and handset based solution is necessary.
Well that's the beauty of the free market - no one phone will suit everyone. They can make fancy potentially vulnerable phones for those that one them and simpler less functional phones for those that don't. Bottom line, if you don't think a phone needs a web browser, IM, email etc, get a cheapy that doesn't.
Absolutely correct - many mobile viruses are spread via MMS, all of which are routed through operators networks and accordingly able to be scanned and stopped by operators. Not that most operators do this yet.
Of course, Symbian phones are pretty much the most promiscous things out there - they are not only able to connect via the network (which can be scanned by the operator) but also peer to peer (via Bluetooth, IR, or cable to PC, and eventually wifi and who knows what). Which is why a both a network and a handset based solution is necessary.
It shouldn't affect battery life - I use SimWorks Anti-Virus (disclaimer - I work for SimWorks) and while it constantly monitors incoming traffic we have not been able to measure any decrease in battery life.