1/28/2011 11:07:11 AM
IT Security news: Mobile Malware - Oooh, scary...or is it??
So, it seems your elusive cyber criminal is starting to
concentrate their efforts on the smartphone.
According to a Cisco report Apple's iOS and Google's Android
platform are the targets.
I'm not surprised. On a recent holiday to Egypt I switched on my
iPhone 4 (yes, I'm “one of those”), and picked up a Saudi 4G
network. I hadn't meant to, I was going to use the hotel's WiFi to
check email, but unable to resist the lure of 4G and genuinely
mobile broadband, I started surfing. I'm telling you now, it is
impressive.
It got me thinking. When I'm at home, I rarely switch on my
laptop; I either browse on my phone, or use my iPad. Furthermore,
with PC security now so good, I use McAfee Total Protection and
can't remember the last time I had an issue. No wonder these cyber
criminals are looking to smartphones - and tablets!
The report suggested that we are at a tipping point for mobile
malware, whereas Sophos claim that mobile malware is still
extremely rare - Sophos comment that mobile malware is like "a
raindrop in a thunderstorm" when compared to Windows PC risks.
Me, I wouldn’t bet against mobile malware - all someone has to
do is deploy a piece of malware that dials a premium rate phone
number and bingo, the returns are there to be seen for all. It's
just that at this juncture, with so many PC users still using
Windows 10-year-old operating system XP, this is kind of keeping
the bad guys busy.
The first smartphone worm emerged in 2004. It wasn't really a
great threat, and the first iPhone worm burrowed its way to the
surface in 2009. What did it do? It changed the phone's wallpaper
to a picture of 1980's hit parade legend, Rick Astley (I know a few
ladies of my vintage who would love that malware to hit their
iPhone!).
I think it’s safe to say that there is no cause for wailing and
gnashing of teeth right now, but sadly, in time, your beloved
smartphone will become a victim. Whether that will manifest itself
as the “Love Bug” from 10 years ago, or '”Anna Kournikova”, remains
to be seen.
Damian Hicklin
IT
Security & Communications Manager
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ARM