Smartphones Under Threat

With all the buzz surrounding the Smartphones, it's no wonder that a warning has been issued and its a stern one. Smartphones are in danger of being hacked by cyber criminals. This may seem like yesterday's news but an announcement has been made at this years Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona. We've all heard time and again of the threat of hackers but I think few of us take it seriously, you'll think twice when something happens to you but for those of you willing to heed the warning, hold on to your chairs, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

The incredibly popular Smartphones could face an explosion of virus attacks in the coming years. The scary possibility is that a worm could infect a phone tomorrow and go around in the world in minutes. But it's not all doom and gloom, security companies, mobile operators and makers of operating systems have found solutions to limit the attacks so far and delay an onslaught of spam and viruses. But as much of a relief as this is, it won't last forever but delays can help the process of trying to figure out what can be done to prevent or at least limit the damage.

An interesting fact is that on any new platform, the first years, the viruses are done by hobbyists just showing off their technological abilities but later down the line more professional money-making criminals move in. It took hackers 20 years for computer viruses to become a money-making industry but they are estimating it to take a lot less time for mobiles.

Security companies have developed anti-spam and anti-virus software for mobile phones as well as anti-theft features that allow a phone's owner to remotely block the device and even map its location. But Smartphones, with their email and Internet capabilities, will invite more break-ins, especially with the growth of mobile banking. So be prepared and keep watching this space for updates....