Things to know about Phone Viruses
The technology has gone a long way. Before mobile phones were introduced, landline phone was the popular way to communicate. The first mobile phones introduced where analog phones. Analog phones were basically landlines that are mobile. Compared to mobile phones today, an analog phone does not have the capability to send Text messages. Now with the latest innovation, Phones are now capable of using operating system like computers have. The common operating system use by mobile phones is Symbian.
Since mobile phones today could be use to access the internet, send MMS (multimedia messaging service) and transfer of files via Bluetooth, the risk of getting a phone virus has increased. Phone Viruses are the same as a computer virus. They are executable files (.exe) that infects your mobile phone and then copies itself to other mobile phones. So how are they transferred? Files sent by Bluetooth, files downloaded from the Internet or files copied to your phone from your PC are the common ways a virus is transferred.
So what are the different types of Phone Viruses? Here are the most common ones
Cabir.A
This virus commonly infects Symbian Series 60 Phones. The most common way to get this virus is via files transferred using Bluetooth. This is one of the mildest phone viruses since it does not affect your Cellphone. This was first reported on June 2004
Skulls.A (Trojan type)
This phone virus is usually transferred for files downloaded from the internet. It infects various Symbian Phones and came out on November 2004. This is a nasty one since it disables all the phone functions except sending and receiving calls. It also changes the phone’s icons into skills and crossbones.
Commwarrior.A
This phone virus would really cost you money since it sends out expensive MMS messages to everyone in your phonebook. This particular virus infects Symbian series 60 phones. You could get it from files sent via Bluetooth and MMS. It first came out on January 2005
Locknut.B
This is another nasty virus. This virus crashes your system ROM and disables all phone functions. This also inserts other malware into your phone. It infects Symbian Seies 60 phones.
Fontal.A
Another phone virus that disables your phone is this virus. It locks up your phone in startup mode. It spreads via internet download and infects Symbian Series 60 phones.
SymbOS/PornDial.A
This is another virus that causes an increase to your Postpaid Bill or your prepaid balance if you are using a prepaid account. It infects Symbian Series 60 phones as well. A phone could be infected if you open an Ipornplayer installation file. The effect is that it dials predefined Premium rate IDD numbers when left idle
Hatihati.A
No phone with a system operating system is safe from this one. This spreads when you swap a memory card from one phone to another. This virus is also costly since it sends Text messages to predefined international numbers.
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