Mike Temporale
06-15-2004, 04:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,93827,00.html?f=x68' target='_blank'>http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,93827,00.html?f=x68</a><br /><br /></div>"Antivirus company Kaspersky Labs Ltd. said today that it discovered what is believed to be the first computer virus capable of spreading over mobile-phone networks. Cabir is a network worm that infects phones running Symbian Ltd.'s mobile-phone operating system. No infections have been reported. Cabir may be a proof-of-concept worm from an international group of virus writers known as 29a that's credited with the release of a recent virus, Rugrat, that targets Windows 64-bit operating systems, Moscow-based Kaspersky said. Cabir spreads between mobile phones using a specially formatted Symbian operating system distribution (or SIS) file disguised as a security management utility. When the infected file is launched, the mobile phone's screen displays the word Caribe, and the worm modifies the Symbian operating system so that Cabir is started each time the phone is turned on. Once it has infected a mobile phone, Cabir scans for other vulnerable phones using Bluetooth wireless technology, then sends a copy of itself to the first vulnerable phone it finds, Kaspersky said."<br /><br />Oh well, it was just a matter of time before this happened. This virus is directed at the Symbian camp and as such, those of us using Microsoft Windows Mobile-based devices have nothing to fear. It won't be long before other platforms are targeted. So practice safe computing, even on your phone!