08-25-2003, 04:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Is Your PDA A Target For A Virus?
http://pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=18682489&fp=2&fpid=1
Symantec and other antivirus companies are betting it is. "Symantec will introduce this week Symantec AntiVirus for Handhelds, mobile device-residing software designed to detect malicious code for the Palm and Pocket PC platforms. Despite little evidence that viruses severely affect handheld devices, security vendors want to ensure on-demand AV (anti-virus) infrastructure protection if an outbreak occurs."
For now, I think PDAs have a bit of security by obscurity. Also, because the applications on the Pocket PC don't offer scripting capabilities, someone is going to have to actually have to sit down and write a full blown application to pull email addresses from your contact database, and whatever they do on that front won't work on PalmOS.
One area of concern I do have is an MSBlaster type attack. We've learned that to be a target for that type of attack, you need to do two things. 1) Turn your PC on. 2) Go online. Nothing else. You can be infected by that worm on a broadband/LAN connection before you even log in. I have no clue what ports on my Pocket PC are open. :? I don't know how widespread an attack could get with online Pocket PCs, especially those on a high speed WiFi connection. I do know that since the MSBlaster attack a few weeks ago, when I am online with my iPAQ over a GPRS connection and it slows down to a crawl, I wonder, is my bandwidth being taken up with a worm slithering its way into my Pocket PC, or is it just another GPRS slowdown? 8O
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08-25-2003, 05:50 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 301
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I've never had a problem with a PPC virus per se but a month ago I have a PC virus that I couldn't seem to get rid of because I think the PPC was harboring it and I would get it off my PC but when I synced, the virus would show up again and the virus scanner always detected corrupted files in my PPC software and E740's documents folder on my desktop.
Sorry can't remember the name of the virus now but it created a copy of every .exe file on my computer---really annoying and took up an extra 4Gigs until I manually deleted them.
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08-25-2003, 05:53 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 533
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Here here...I second's Ed's thoughts. Since last week, I've been wondering what ports the Pocket PC has open, or if the Pocket PC even uses traditional ports? Anyone who knows be willing to reply?
-Brian
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08-25-2003, 05:57 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 56
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To answer your question: port 139 (NETBIOS) is wide open on any WINCE device. Fortunately it looks like the mobile phone providers have some kind of NAT/firewall to protect mobile devices. At least that is the case with my provider. When I log in via gprs all my ports are closed - do I log in via modem and landline I get the message that my port 135 is wide open. Anybody can easily check for themselves: https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 is the fantastic Shields up! website which can probe your ports and a few things more.
Oliver
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08-25-2003, 06:36 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 155
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Phoenix Technologies Ltd
Phoenix Technologies Ltd, which says it provides BIOS software for 70% to 80% of the world's PCs, is to offer PC makers the ability to put Network Associates Inc's McAfee VirusScan Online software in their PCs below the operating system level.
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Maybe PPC manufacturers will follow the lead of Phoenix and build something into the hardware to combat the future problems.
http://investor.phoenix.com/en/about...6659&Year=2003
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08-25-2003, 07:11 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 31
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Does anybody know if they will release this product from "home" users as well. In looking at their web page, they are only releasing a corporate edition.
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08-25-2003, 07:36 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 541
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I can count the number of PPC viruses that actually pose a threat on less than one hand. This is just feeding off of people's fears. Funny what using Windows all these years will do to people: make them really paranoid to viruses. Symantec constantly makes some announcement about protection of mobile devices, just to raise fears again.
By the way, don't put ALL your faith in Steve Gibson/ShieldsUp! He has a tendancy to overblow EVERYTHING he runs into, and is quite full of himself to boot.
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08-25-2003, 09:40 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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fwiw, there's also at least a firewall or two available for Pocket PCs (one here).
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
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08-25-2003, 09:42 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by sponge
By the way, don't put ALL your faith in Steve Gibson/ShieldsUp! He has a tendancy to overblow EVERYTHING he runs into, and is quite full of himself to boot.
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Hee hee... Too true!
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
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08-25-2003, 11:15 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 64
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I thought MSblast only infected Windows XPs and Windows 2003.
__________________
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