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First 'worm' aimed at mobile phones detected
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-16 09:31 Security experts have discovered what is believed
to be the world's first computer "worm" aimed at mobile phones.
The worm does not appear to pose an immediate threat to cellphone users, but
it suggests that mobile phones are much more vulnerable to virus-writers and
hackers than previously thought.
 Vincent Gullato, vice-president at security group Network Associates, said
the discovery suggested that "we've now entered into an era in which we could
very well see more cellphone threats in the future".
The malicious code, dubbed "cabir", is a worm that replicates on the Symbian
operating system used in several brands of mobile phones, such as Nokia, Siemens
and Panasonic.
The worm was anonymously sent to experts in various countries, but has not
been detected circulating among cellphone users. It propagates through the
"Bluetooth" wireless technology, repeatedly sending itself to any
Bluetooth-enabled device that it can find, regardless of the type. The worm will
not damage a phone or its software but shortens the device's battery life by
constantly scanning for other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
The worm appears to have been developed by an international group of hackers
known as 29A, who specialise in creating viruses and try to show "that no
technology is reliable and safe from their attacks".
Anti-virus experts have for some years been highlighting the vulnerability of
modern PC-like mobile phones. Mobile makers have been loath to acknowledge the
vulnerability of their devices.
If the virus succeeds in penetrating the phone it writes "Caribe" on the
screen and is activated every time the phone is turned off and on.
Mr Gullato said the good news was that for the virus to spread, cellphone
users would have to accept wireless signals being beamed to the
device.
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