Slightly OT: Mobile phone & Bluetooth virus threat
#11
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Well, again, not to panic anyone, but there's now one in the wild and it spreads via MMS and BT. It can only get worse from here...
PRESS RELEASE
For release March 07, 2005
First MMS-spread virus found in the wild
The world's first MMS-spread mobile phone virus called Commwarrior, which
also attempts to replicate through Bluetooth wireless technology, has been
detected in the wild.
The threat of mobile phone viruses increased yesterday with the revelation of
a mobile phone virus called Commwarrior, which has the potential to spread
globally through MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). In addition, the virus
can replicate locally through Bluetooth wireless technology - the means by
which mobile viruses like Cabir and its variants have thus far been
spreading.? In this manner, it speeds up the draining of the phone's battery.
The first indication of Commwarrior was made already in January in a Serbian
discussion forum warning of a virus spreading among Symbian Series 60
platform phones by randomly sending MMS messages automatically to an infected
phone's contacts list. MMS text messages can include an image, audio or video
elements. Commwarrior sends MMS messages from one phone to another or to the
phone owner's email contacts.
By so doing, the virus has the potential to spread globally. So far, however,
it has failed to do so and is replicating slowly - an anomaly being carefully
investigated by the F-Secure Anti Virus Research Team. First indications
suggest that the virus is Russian in origin, as it contains text that says
"OTMOP03KAM HET!" which roughly translates as "No to braindeads".
Speaking about the new mobile threat, F-Secure's Director for Mobile Operator
Solutions, Antti Vihavainen said: "The situation is not critical since we
have not received a lot of reports from our customers. However, CommWarrior
creates unwanted billing for the owners of infected phones by sending MMS
messages without user interaction," adding: "The phones can be easily
protected by using common sense. None of today's mobile viruses can install
themselves without the user accepting the standard security warnings."
F-Secure Mobile AntiVirus can already detect Commwarrior - an update which
was made within two hours of its detection. In the event that a user's
Symbian Series 60 phone is not running the F-Secure client, it is advisable
not to install unknown applications arriving in MMS messages and keep
Bluetooth in undiscoverable mode.
About F-Secure Corporation?
F-Secure Corporation is the fastest growing publicly listed company globally
in the antivirus and intrusion prevention industry with more than 50% revenue
growth in 2004. F-Secure services and software protect individuals and
businesses against computer viruses and other threats coming through the
Internet or mobile networks. Our award-winning solutions include antivirus
and desktop firewall with intrusion prevention, antispam and antispyware
solutions. Our key strength is our proven speed of response to new threats.
For businesses our solutions feature a centrally managed and well integrated
suite of solutions for workstations and servers alike. Focused partners offer
security as a service for those companies that do not wish to build security
expertise in-house. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki
Exchanges since 1999. We have our headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and
offices in USA, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan.
F-Secure is supported by a global ecosystem of service partners, value added
resellers and distributors in over 50 countries. F-Secure protection is also
available through mobile handset manufacturers such as Nokia and as a service
through major Internet Service Providers, such as Deutsche Telekom, France
Telecom and Charter Communications. The latest real-time virus threat
scenario news are available at the F-Secure Antivirus Research Team weblog at
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
For more information, please contact:
F-Secure Corporation
Antti Vihavainen, Director, Mobile Operator Solutions
Tel. +358 (0)9 2520 5357
Mobile +358 (0)40 523 3880
Email: antti.vihavainen@f-secure.com
www.f-secure.com
For release March 07, 2005
First MMS-spread virus found in the wild
The world's first MMS-spread mobile phone virus called Commwarrior, which
also attempts to replicate through Bluetooth wireless technology, has been
detected in the wild.
The threat of mobile phone viruses increased yesterday with the revelation of
a mobile phone virus called Commwarrior, which has the potential to spread
globally through MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). In addition, the virus
can replicate locally through Bluetooth wireless technology - the means by
which mobile viruses like Cabir and its variants have thus far been
spreading.? In this manner, it speeds up the draining of the phone's battery.
The first indication of Commwarrior was made already in January in a Serbian
discussion forum warning of a virus spreading among Symbian Series 60
platform phones by randomly sending MMS messages automatically to an infected
phone's contacts list. MMS text messages can include an image, audio or video
elements. Commwarrior sends MMS messages from one phone to another or to the
phone owner's email contacts.
By so doing, the virus has the potential to spread globally. So far, however,
it has failed to do so and is replicating slowly - an anomaly being carefully
investigated by the F-Secure Anti Virus Research Team. First indications
suggest that the virus is Russian in origin, as it contains text that says
"OTMOP03KAM HET!" which roughly translates as "No to braindeads".
Speaking about the new mobile threat, F-Secure's Director for Mobile Operator
Solutions, Antti Vihavainen said: "The situation is not critical since we
have not received a lot of reports from our customers. However, CommWarrior
creates unwanted billing for the owners of infected phones by sending MMS
messages without user interaction," adding: "The phones can be easily
protected by using common sense. None of today's mobile viruses can install
themselves without the user accepting the standard security warnings."
F-Secure Mobile AntiVirus can already detect Commwarrior - an update which
was made within two hours of its detection. In the event that a user's
Symbian Series 60 phone is not running the F-Secure client, it is advisable
not to install unknown applications arriving in MMS messages and keep
Bluetooth in undiscoverable mode.
About F-Secure Corporation?
F-Secure Corporation is the fastest growing publicly listed company globally
in the antivirus and intrusion prevention industry with more than 50% revenue
growth in 2004. F-Secure services and software protect individuals and
businesses against computer viruses and other threats coming through the
Internet or mobile networks. Our award-winning solutions include antivirus
and desktop firewall with intrusion prevention, antispam and antispyware
solutions. Our key strength is our proven speed of response to new threats.
For businesses our solutions feature a centrally managed and well integrated
suite of solutions for workstations and servers alike. Focused partners offer
security as a service for those companies that do not wish to build security
expertise in-house. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki
Exchanges since 1999. We have our headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and
offices in USA, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan.
F-Secure is supported by a global ecosystem of service partners, value added
resellers and distributors in over 50 countries. F-Secure protection is also
available through mobile handset manufacturers such as Nokia and as a service
through major Internet Service Providers, such as Deutsche Telekom, France
Telecom and Charter Communications. The latest real-time virus threat
scenario news are available at the F-Secure Antivirus Research Team weblog at
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
For more information, please contact:
F-Secure Corporation
Antti Vihavainen, Director, Mobile Operator Solutions
Tel. +358 (0)9 2520 5357
Mobile +358 (0)40 523 3880
Email: antti.vihavainen@f-secure.com
www.f-secure.com
#12
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Recent testing with a Toyota Prius and the BT virus revealed some interesting results. I wonder if the results would have been any different with an E60?
Check out the Monday, May 9th, 2005 entry of the following blog:
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
Check out the Monday, May 9th, 2005 entry of the following blog:
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Vman33
Complete Car Sales
5
03-14-2022 04:43 AM