Smartphone Viruses: The New Face of an Old Threat
The New Face of an Old Threat
Viruses and malware have long plagued computer users worldwide, but in recent years malicious coders have set their eyes on newfound, unsuspecting victims: smartphone users. There are more than one billion smartphones in use worldwide today, and that figure is projected to more than double by the end of the decade. In contrast, it took now ubiquitous desktop computers nearly thirty years to eclipse one billion units sold. The explosive growth in popularity of smartphones across the world presents malware and virus authors with an unprecedented population of vulnerable users, a population that until recently was largely blind to the threat viruses and malware pose to modern mobile phones.
Mobile Malware
There are two primary classes of smartphone viruses: worms and trojans. Worms, as the name may suggest, infect smartphones and then spread like parasites. They spread autonomously via SMS and MMS, infecting every entry on your contact list through spurious text messages. Some worms exist simply to reproduce, spreading as far and wide as they're able across mobile networks. Others, however, may also include a trojan designed for more nefarious purposes.
A trojan is a cleverly disguised program that allows an unauthorized third party to perform operations on an infected smartphone. Unsuspecting users often mistakenly install trojans masquerading as legitimate smartphone apps, and many such apps are even available for download in official smartphone application stores until they're identified as malicious software, or malware, and removed. By that time, however, the damage is already be done.
Some smartphone viruses simply send hundreds of premium text messages without the user's knowledge, resulting in an immense cell phone bill and a windfall for the programmer's partners in crime. Others facilitate identity theft by relaying personal information back to the virus' author. Still others make the phone part of a mobile botnet, a network of mobile phones poised to perform tasks on a third party's behalf.
Smartphone Security
The same common sense practices that apply to desktop computer security can also significantly reduce the risk of exposure to smartphone viruses and malware. The emergence of smartphone malware initially caught antivirus companies flatfooted, but today many companies provide security apps that offer inexpensive or even free protection for smartphones. Additionally, users should only install applications from trusted, reputable authors in official app stores. App stores are growing increasingly vigilant in light of the rise of smartphone viruses, but even now trojan apps sometimes slip by. In the end, educated users are the first and best line of defense against smartphone viruses and malware.
Viruses and malware have long plagued computer users worldwide, but in recent years malicious coders have set their eyes on newfound, unsuspecting victims: smartphone users. There are more than one billion smartphones in use worldwide today, and that figure is projected to more than double by the end of the decade. In contrast, it took now ubiquitous desktop computers nearly thirty years to eclipse one billion units sold. The explosive growth in popularity of smartphones across the world presents malware and virus authors with an unprecedented population of vulnerable users, a population that until recently was largely blind to the threat viruses and malware pose to modern mobile phones.
Mobile Malware
There are two primary classes of smartphone viruses: worms and trojans. Worms, as the name may suggest, infect smartphones and then spread like parasites. They spread autonomously via SMS and MMS, infecting every entry on your contact list through spurious text messages. Some worms exist simply to reproduce, spreading as far and wide as they're able across mobile networks. Others, however, may also include a trojan designed for more nefarious purposes.
A trojan is a cleverly disguised program that allows an unauthorized third party to perform operations on an infected smartphone. Unsuspecting users often mistakenly install trojans masquerading as legitimate smartphone apps, and many such apps are even available for download in official smartphone application stores until they're identified as malicious software, or malware, and removed. By that time, however, the damage is already be done.
Some smartphone viruses simply send hundreds of premium text messages without the user's knowledge, resulting in an immense cell phone bill and a windfall for the programmer's partners in crime. Others facilitate identity theft by relaying personal information back to the virus' author. Still others make the phone part of a mobile botnet, a network of mobile phones poised to perform tasks on a third party's behalf.
Smartphone Security
The same common sense practices that apply to desktop computer security can also significantly reduce the risk of exposure to smartphone viruses and malware. The emergence of smartphone malware initially caught antivirus companies flatfooted, but today many companies provide security apps that offer inexpensive or even free protection for smartphones. Additionally, users should only install applications from trusted, reputable authors in official app stores. App stores are growing increasingly vigilant in light of the rise of smartphone viruses, but even now trojan apps sometimes slip by. In the end, educated users are the first and best line of defense against smartphone viruses and malware.
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