Smartphone Insecurity Growing
It was really only a matter of time until the news about smartphone security glitches and viruses started hitting the airwaves.
It was really only a matter of time until the news about smartphone security glitches and viruses started hitting the airwaves. You can't say I didn't warn you . . .
Smartphone Security Gaps
Employees are at risk for viruses and other security breaches, so IT staff need to be just as vigilant with company-issued phones accessing the network as they are with computers.
Smartphone problems hitting the headlines over the past few days include the following:
* A zombie virus infected over 1 million phones in China. The virus continously sends text messages, which ends up costing users with limited texting plans thousands of dollars. While the virus is based in China now, it's not a stretch to think infected phones will make their way into the U.S. and other countries.
* A vulnerability in Android's operating system leaves the phones open for an attack. An article at SecurityNewsDaily stated:
Security researcher Jon Oberheide found that on devices running Android 2.0 or higher, he was able to access the Android service token, reported security firm Kaspersky Lab. The token is used to request permission from the Android Market to install third-party applications on a device. With access to the token, an app can be installed without a password, username or even permission from the Android market.
* A security hole in iPhone's PayPal app.
If there is any positive to this, it is that antivirus companies are stepping up protection for smartphones, and, according to the site Phandroids, this is leading to antivirus wars. That means improved protection for all of us.
