Security news
Security news13 December 2004
Three new variants of Cabir smartphone virus discovered
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| The Cabir worms only work on mobile phones running the Symbian operating system. However, there are no reports of anyone being infected. |
But low threat to mobile phone users as no sightings of worm reported
Sophos virus experts have advised customers not to panic, following the discovery of three new variants of the Cabir virus which attempt to infect mobile phones. The new versions of the virus have been made available for download on a Malaysian website dedicated to sharing mobile phone applications.
The Cabir worms attempt to spread via Bluetooth to other compatible mobile smartphones in their vicinity, but recipients have to confirm they wish to receive the worm before it can infect them.
Sophos advises cell phone users that they can protect themselves against many types of Bluetooth threats by turning off the "visible to others" Bluetooth setting in their phones. This protects against being sent unwanted malicious programs.
"Although malware written specifically for mobiles tends to make the headlines, it hasn't so far resulted in any outbreaks," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Users should not be fooled into thinking the virus writers are focusing their attention away from the main battelfield - regular Windows-based desktop PCs."
Sophos issued detection of the Symb/Cabir-C, Symb/Cabir-D and Symb/Cabir-E worms at 21:33 GMT on 10 December.
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