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Smart Threats
28th May 2008    Current rating: 

Topic: Technology

This Wall Street Journal article by Joseph De Avila  indicates that smart phone attacks are starting to be taken seriously by the US enterprise. However, it seems that most of the analyst experts cited in this piece do not believe mobile malware and other attacks are a big problem, when compared to that of PCs: 

 
So far, there are about 300 to 500 known versions of malicious software, or malware, written for phones -- a small number compared to those that attack personal computers. Malware infects phones through email attachments and text messages that ask users to download an application. They also can be delivered over wireless connections using Bluetooth technology.
 
It's good to see that the world's eyes are being opened to the reality of mobile threats, but it still seems that a lot of people believe that these threats need to be addressed at the device level- similar to PCs. But the reality is, unlike PCs, mobile devices do not have the same capacity for storage, memory and speed. By installing protection at the carrier level, the devices are secure by a blanket approach that adjusts and expands without impacting the device's performance.
 
One point the article touches on is that because there are so many different devices and operating platforms out there, attackers are using more clever methods in which to take advantage of wireless devices:
 
Another type of malware is so-called "snoopware," which was originally sold in Asia as a spouse-monitoring tool, says Paul Miller, managing director for mobile security at Symantec Corp. Now attackers see this application as a way to eavesdrop on conversations, intercept text messages or peek at call logs.
 
So as hackers adjust to the unique properties of mobile devices when launching attacks, defenders need to do the same. As mentioned above, you can't expect to protect a smart phone the same way you would a PC. That's like trying to protect a bicyclist the way you would an automobile driver- while an airbag works in a car, you wouldn't stick one in a bike's handlebars!
 
(Though it looks like Honda tried to do so in motorcycles… when was the last time anyone saw a motorcycle stay upright in a collision?? Chalk this one up to the 'makes little sense' category… right up there with applying PC protection to smart phones!)
 

 
 

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