[Franglais]

As we all have some anti-virus program or other on your PC/laptops what about those of us who receive emails on our mobiles?

Surely, the virus risks are no less this way (via mobiles) so should'nt mobiles also have something like that to protect them?

There does'nt seem to be such a program on my new LG mobile that I'm aware of?

[dontpannic]

There's no point. Mobiles won't be affected as they can't open PC .exe files, or other files that could be infected won't display or run the infected code.

In other words, phone's are unaffected by viri.

[Franglais]

Oh I see, thanks for the insight, I did'nt know that!

[!!11oneone]

Whilst mobiles themselves can't be affected by viruses, they can still pass them on by forwarding emails that they shouldn't.

So, don't send things that you're not sure about...

[DarthFader]

You can get anti virus for smart phones though http://www.eset.com/home/mobile-antivirus

[dontpannic]

What's the point though when there are no viruses that affect smartphones?

[simon_adams]

But there soon will be viruses for phones, just takes time for the virus developers to start making them

[dontpannic]

And when that day comes I'll take the same precautions that I do sucessfully on my PC to avoid viruses. Don't open suspicious looking files, and don't visit dodgy
websites!

Being sensible on the web is cheaper than antivirus software.

[JasonWatkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

Being sensible on the web is cheaper than antivirus software.

Exactly right - your brain is the best anti-virus software you can use. But then I've been called everything from a moron to god-knows-what when I say that, and that I never use anti-virus software.

But hey ho ..

[dontpannic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWatkins

Exactly right - your brain is the best anti-virus software you can use. But then I've been called everything from a moron to god-knows-what when I say that, and that I never use anti-virus software.

But hey ho ..

As part of my job I have to disinfect laptops which have all sorts of viri on them, and I always wonder to myself, "How is it possible?"

I've been using computers since 1993/1994 and have never been infected with a virus.

In fact I lie, there was once, however I did leave a samba server open to the world by forgetting to turn off DMZ (doh).

I now run Microsoft Security Essentials on my Windows 7 PC, its lightweight, unobtrusive, and I have never seen it, the resident protection has never picked anything up on the web, or on my file system, and it is simply knowing what not to do on the internet. This is the FIRST virus scanner I have used on my main PC. Up until now I haven't run AV software on my main machine.

Yep - people have in the past called me an idiot etc for not running AV software, but when it comes to the fact that I've been using computers for 16 years and never had a virus they eat thier words!

[Finglonga]

Looked into it when I had the Xperia and although there are Anti-Virus programs for WM there are no in the wild viri out there at the moment so a waste of money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWatkins

Exactly right - your brain is the best anti-virus software you can use. But then I've been called everything from a moron to god-knows-what when I say that, and that I never use anti-virus software.

But hey ho ..

Then how do you know you have nothing lurking on your computer and passing it on to others?

[JasonWatkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finglonga

Then how do you know you have nothing lurking on your computer and passing it on to others?

Because I know. I have the Windows firewall up and running and updated and that's all I need.

Much like dontpannic, i've been using computers for over 15 years and i've only ever had a single virus infection.

[dontpannic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finglonga

Then how do you know you have nothing lurking on your computer and passing it on to others?

We look out for things - suspicious processes, startup items etc. You just know when a system is infected, especially nowadays when they pop up every 10 seconds asking for credit card details!!

The most common one I deal with at the moment (working in a school) is AntiSpyware 2010/AntivirusXP/XPAntispyware or whatever the hell it calls itself this week.

[Knighton]

Those who say phones don't get affected by viruses are wrong.

There used to be viruses that targeted the symbian operating system, although they are rare now.

I use Kaspersky Internet Security on my N95, purely because I get it free from having an account with Barclays.

[dontpannic]

Ah yes, the fabled symbian viruses. The one you have to install yourself......

[Knighton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

Ah yes, the fabled symbian viruses. The one you have to install yourself......

That's the same way many viruses attack PCs today, hidden in torrent files etc.

The risk from viruses for mobiles might be relatively lower but it is still a risk, especially with the rise in applications plus people using smartphones for business use.

Claiming mobile are unaffected by viruses is reckless at best.

[dontpannic]

Well mobiles are immune. Smartphones less so, however you still have to be galactically stupid to install a dodgy looking file onto your phone in the first place. Apple has the App Store, Android has the Marketplace, and Windows Mobile now has the marketplace, so there's no need for an end user to go downloading things from "www.iwillprobablyinfectyourpc.com".

As I said, its all about education. I know that viruses attack PC's hidden within other files, thats essentially why I look out for file sizes. For example, if a Linux ISO weighs in at 37kb then you know it could be a virus, however some don't even take that into consideration.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the risk of a virus infection to mobile phones and smartphones is negliable at best.

[dontpannic]

For example here, this is about the most effective way of transferring a virus:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3809855.stm

"Hmm, someone I don't know has just sent me a file I'm not expecting via Bluetooth. Let me open it"

As you can probably tell, that is wrong, but thats how people get infected.

"Hmm, someone I don't know has just sent me a file I'm not expecting via Bluetooth. I'll delete it straight away"

Is much better. Its exactly the same with Torrents:

Directory listing
Setup.exe
serial.txt
IAMAVERYNASTYVIRUS.EXE
Install.txt -> [run iamanastyvirus.exe, then run setup.exe]

Hmm, the install file says I should run this very suspicious looking file. I'd better do as they command.

[Knighton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

Well mobiles are immune. Smartphones less so, however you still have to be galactically stupid to install a dodgy looking file onto your phone in the first place. Apple has the App Store, Android has the Marketplace, and Windows Mobile now has the marketplace, so there's no need for an end user to go downloading things from "www.iwillprobablyinfectyourpc.com".

Where there are programmes available online to purchase, people will always go looking for cracks/kegens, the same as they do with their PCs. That's how a lot of trojans get around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the risk of a virus infection to mobile phones and smartphones is negliable at best.

No, what you said before was

Quote:

In other words, phone's are unaffected by viri.

The risk being 'negliable' (did you mean 'negligible'?) and 'unaffected' have 2 different meanings.

You claim to have vast technical experience so people are likely to listen to you and pay attention to advice you offer, can you not see how reckless you're being by claiming a perceived threat simply does not exist, however small it is?

Security through obscurity is no security, they used to say Firefox was untouchable, now hackers and script-kiddies spend more time paying with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

For example here, this is about the most effective way of transferring a virus:

Posting a 6 year old link does not enforce your opinion credentials especially when the whole mobile phone culture was entirely different back then.

Smartphones were very rare, now they're everywhere.

Granted they might not make up the majority of handsets today but they still number enough to offer a target to virus writers. I doubt anyone will create a significant virus to badly affect iphones but with Symbian going open-source and Nokia bringing out more and more handsets to compete with Apple, all the ingredients are there for virus writers to cause damage.

[dontpannic]

Well I knew the flaming would start and picking holes in everything I post (as it normally does when someone does not agree with someone elses POV). I shall make it clearer for those of you who don't accept another persons point of view. Please note that you'll have to ignore my previous posts.
[LIST][*]Yes, viruses for smartphones do exist[*]No, a phone (dumbphone) cannot be infected[*]Its pointless to pay for antivirus software if you know what you are doing[*]Do not open anything sent to you that you do not recognise, be it PC or Smartphone[*]Smartphone viruses are not "out in the wild" and they have to be installed by the user[/LIST]Does that make it easier for you now? Also, I'd like the bitching against me to stop.

Until viruses are spread without user input over the mobile networks I will not be running antivirus software on my mobile. I've seen PC antivirus software eating away at valuable system resources so to install it on my phone is stupid.

I shared the BBC link with you as that is the most well known method of transmitting viri between smartphones. As a Symbian user, you should know that opening an untrusted SIS file that you don't recognise is really stupid.

[Knighton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontpannic

Well I knew the flaming would start and picking holes in everything I post (as it normally does when someone does not agree with someone elses POV). I shall make it clearer for those of you who don't accept another persons point of view. Please note that you'll have to ignore my previous posts.

Np need to get defensive, I'm picking holes in your posts, not in you. You've posted some things which aren't quite accurate and when someone says they have x amount of experience and knowledge people often follow what they say without question. I'm just pointing out the recklessness of what you're done. I can't see any flaming either. If you cannot handle being shown where you're made errors then I suggest you lay off internet forums for a while. I'm not saying I disagree with your point of view - most of what you said makes sense but you have contradicted yourself and for the purpose of clarity for the less well-informed I'm going over those points.

With smartphone getting cheaper and more available nowadays, the line of distinction between them and 'dumbphones' as you call them is getting more and more blurred for many people. More than 20 posts later you outline the difference between them but don't forget not everyone is an intelligent and experienced as yourself. You know what you're talking about, others may not.

Quote:

Yes, viruses for smartphones do exist

Glad we finally agree on this.

Quote:

No, a phone (dumbphone) cannot be infected

Also agreed. A very important point too.

Quote:

Its pointless to pay for antivirus software if you know what you are doing

Also a good point, although anyone can get KIS 2010 for smartphones for free if they bank with Barclays. It has a very handy built-in call and text blocker for those who aren't interested in combating viruses.

Quote:

Do not open anything sent to you that you do not recognise, be it PC or Smartphone

Invaluable advice.

Quote:

Smartphone viruses are not "out in the wild" and they have to be installed by the user

That's also not in question - PC viruses started that way, remember them getting transferred via floppy disk?

There's no bitching - I don't do personal attacks but I don't like to see intelligent and influential (by way of knowledge) people giving incomplete advice.

Quote:

I shared the BBC link with you as that is the most well known method of transmitting viri between smartphones.

The point I'm making is that situation is changing. For a long time that was the case but with loads of paid-for applications out there, people will go looking for cracks and keygens, as is the case with computer software. You're probably aware of the risks of downloading such things from torrent sites that claim to be cracks, well it's not too much of a stretch of the imagination to assume smartphone users will do the same in order to get around paying for things.

Quote:

As a Symbian user, you should know that opening an untrusted SIS file that you don't recognise is really stupid.

Absolutely - opening anything you've downloaded but don't recognise via mobile or computer is risky.