Automotive Mobile Audio Video

As if you didn’t have enough to worry about, what with hackers lurking in every corner of the internet and phishing scammers ready to blindside you at every turn, here’s something else on which to gnaw. The last couple of years have given way to a different, though thus far low grade, threat: the transmission of viruses through your cell phone. Though this is not yet considered a widespread problem, there is concern that the future of cell phone viruses will prove to be a damaging and encompassing as computer viruses.

In 2004, developers created the first cell phone virus, Cabir A. The virus, ironically, was created only to prove that the creation was possible. It was turned over to researchers for the purpose of developing a solution before the issue becomes a problem. Since the creation of Cabir A, criminals have taken it upon themselves to create their own malicous viruses. Though only a few were ever released into the wild and didn't have a widespread effect, they were created to do harm, and we likely haven't seen the last of similar efforts.

Some cell phone viruses are spread the same way as computer viruses—through executable files. A cell phone can even download an infected file from a computer. Other ways a virus can be transmitted to a cell phone include:

1. Internet downloads, such as ring tones and video clips
2. Multimedia Messaging Service attachments
3. Bluetooth transfers

Cell phone viruses commonly arrive in the form of games, free stuff such as ringtones and images, pornography, and phone add-ons and patches. Some are in the form of a text message program, which must be opened and installed, which makes them unlikely to spread very far. However, many people end up with infected phones because they open viruses disguised as games, or other similar features they think they want, and download them.

In the event that cell phone viruses start becoming more common, you can avoid infecting your cell phone using the same preventative methods you use to avoid infecting your computer:

1. Do not download or accept free media or files unless they are from a trusted source.
2. Do not open or download attachments from unknown sources.
3. Turn off Bluetooth or set it to non-discoverable mode when it's not in use.
4. Only allow phones equipped with Beam (or Infrared) to receive incoming beams from a trusted source.
5. If your cell phone is capable of running antivirus software, install it and keep it updated.

If your cell phone becomes infected, the damage could range from loss of contact information to the crashing of your phone. Some viruses are even capable of spreading to the cell phones of the people on your contact list via MMS message—and charging you each time it is sent! Some experts worry that there might one day be a virus created that allows third parties to tap your phone, record the numbers you dial, listen to your conversations, and steal financial information.