VIRUS ON MY Pocket PC?

[Cadavidf]

hey i just went to the store to buy a Pocket PC for my friend and the guy was telling me that i should also buy an AntiVirus Software since "all electronic apliances/devices (refering to microsoft) have a virus thread." i know that microfost is well known to have atacks such as Blaster Worm and My Doom (i think) but a pocket pc? i have'd mi pocket pc for a year now and i havent seen a virus, everything has been smooth. but what really impresses me is that the shop had an antivirus software! are they just selling it to make people spend more money? or is it that there are some worms around?

[Sydney Bristow]

If I remember correctly, there's one harmless test virus and one harmful virus...there were news articles on them in the past.

Sorry I can't remember specific details, but I'm certain about the one harmless test virus, through I'm not as confident on the one harmful virus. ^^;

[Jon Westfall]

Buying a PPC for your friend? I deffinetly need to get more financially advanced friends...

Anyway, as far as I've seen, the virus thing right now with PPCs is mostly hype. I don't know what PPC you or your lucky friend use, but if it isn't connected to the internet very often, this becomes even more of a non-issue. I'd wait until we actually see real PPC viruses that cause harm become more widespread until I'd worry.

Jon.

[applejosh]

I'd also check to see if your (his/her) desktop antivirus program includes a PocketPC add-on as part of the package. And if the machine is used for personal use only, then you could try AirScanner (free for home/personal use). Haven't tried it personally, but it's free for these circumstances.

http://airscanner.com/downloads/av/av.html

But as pointed out, there isn't hardly a threat at all for the time being.

[Paragon]

but what really impresses me is that the shop had an antivirus software! are they just selling it to make people spend more money

YES!......period!

[applejosh]

but what really impresses me is that the shop had an antivirus software! are they just selling it to make people spend more money

YES!......period!

Isn't that why shops have anything at all? :)

[Darius Wey]

Duts and Brador are the two out there for the Pocket PC. The chances of getting it and having it do something harmful are very minimal. I'd wait until viruses start impacting mobile devices a little more before you start to get concerned. You can certainly see this trend at the moment with Symbian-based phones.

[Cadavidf]

i herd that there was a virus going on to the phones and it was something like skulls, and it transfer it self through bluetooth... but i dont know much about it... is there any other viruses for mobile phones?

[Darius Wey]

There are plenty, but for the majority of them, they wouldn't run on the Windows Mobile OS, which is why you need not be too concerned about it - even if it was to transfer through BT.

[Cadavidf]

When i refered to phones i was refering to Simbian OS phones since they are the most common

[Darius Wey]

When i refered to phones i was refering to Simbian OS phones since they are the most common

As was I. :) I don't remember every single one out there that affects Symbian phones since there are quite a few of them out there. Cross-infection between different OS versions is unlikely. If you're worried about your Symbian phone becoming infected, there are new measures in place to help cut down on infections (virus scanners, etc.).