The first ever virus of mobile phone, known as Cabir, is able to contaminate mobile phones and other interrelated devices which is running on the Symbian operating system. However, there are no reported infections till date and the worm seems to be harmless. But this incidence assures that mobile is also not free from virus infections.
Symbian Operating System
Symbian operating system is specifically designed for mobile devices. It includes in-built libraries, user interface and common tools. It runs exclusively on ARAM processor. Symbian OS is presently adopted by different well-known manufacturing units such as Nokia, Samsung, Ericsson, Panasonic, and Siemens.
Now, as the contaminated file launches over the screen, the word ‘Caribe’ comes into the display. Each time the user turns on the mobile phone; the virus scans itself and sends a replica to all compatible devices it finds connected with it.
As investigated by the group of Sophos Anti-virus, it is claimed as an interesting case of observation rather anything to make the eyebrows stingy on.
Available Proof
This worm needs the support of Bluetooth technology to move on to different places, so the contamination is geographically constrained to a radius of 30 meters altogether, depending on the availability of Bluetooth within that specified range.
This worm, during the contamination process, needs to receive by a user along with a warning of unknown source file.
As investigated by anti-virus company called F-Secure, initially the virus came from a group of virus coders, known as 29a.
However, while describing their motto regarding the creation of the virus code, F-Secure affirms that there is no intended harm rather to find out the proof of concept. However, F-Secure does not ignore the possibility to consider this code as the footstep to design further malicious program that may be proven as harmful as wiping out contacts or sending automated messages.
They conclude the importance of installing firewalls in mobile phones just like it is now in PC.
Other Threats
The modern threats come in more complicated forms. For example, a Brazilian virus coder prepared a virus code that may contaminate mobile devices using two modes of applications. Firstly, it may use the Bluetooth technology for short-range infections and secondly, it may attach itself to the targeted file of infection. The virus is known as Lasco. A.
The mobile phones get infected when users swap files such as games, applications among themselves. This swapping may be done by using Bluetooth technologies or infrared features and in both of the cases, the infection is feasible. The short battery life is the common indicator of this infection.
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