The Security Mentor

Antivirus firms are arguing in the industry press about whether mobile phone viruses are a security threat or just hype. If you're a cynic you might wonder whether you could guess the firms's positions based on whether they offer mobile phone antivirus products. You could.

The truth seems to be that both sides are right. Today's mobile phone malware is scattered, mostly harmless and spreads slowly. This will get worse as virus writers trade techniques and as smart phones become more common. Things will really get bad when organized crime figures out a way to profit from mobile phone malware.

What should you do now? There are two or three things to consider before you resort to antivirus software on your phone. One is to wander through the settings on your phone and turn off any features you don't need about transferring files or downloading programs. Another is to turn off any Bluetooth features that you don't need.

By the time mobile phone viruses catch on, one phone operating system may have emerged as more virus-resistant. Research that before you buy.

The other thing is to consider getting a dumb phone. An anonymous post on a bulletin board for geeks said

Just buy a damn PHONE. You know. Those things that used to just go ring-ring, and you pick it up and talk on it and maybe keep an address book on?