Now mobile phone users can zap threatening viruses in Arabic. New Zealand-based SimWorks, partnering with UAE-based Citi Telecommunications International, is bringing an Arabic version of its anti-virus to the region after six months of development.
The market was primed for an Arabic version of this product, said Rohan Britto, marketing director of Citi. He said the company was manoeuvring into a neglected niche.
“SimWorks Anti-Virus actively scans and protects your phone from viruses. Unlike other products which operate from a PC, SimWorks Anti-Virus actually runs on your phone so you’re protected 24/7, not just at your desktop,” says Aaron Davidson, CEO of SimWorks.
The first mobile phone virus, which appeared in June 2004, was relatively harmless, and targeted phones through Bluetooth.
Newer strains arrive as attachments to multi-messaging service messages, or via the internet.
Users are either asked to open an MMS attachment, or inadvertently accept a virus hidden in a Bluetooth message. Mobile viruses are often disguised as something appealing, such as games or even anti-virus utilities. SimWorks Anti-Virus covers a wide range of known viruses and is compatible with all phones using the Symbian operating system, including Sony Ericsson’s P800/P900 and Nokia’s 6600.
Symantec, which has released an anti-virus to protect Symbian-OS phones, and McAfee have also focused on the protection of wireless technology, although neither offers protection in Arabic.
“We have seen an increasing trend in the number of internet threats such as viruses which are designed to target mobile phones,” said Kevin Isaac, Regional Director of Sym-antec MENA. “And as phones become increasingly used as data repositories, there is more and more confidential — and therefore valuable — information on these handsets.”
A malicious mobile phone virus could send out messages and pictures to people on the victim’s contact list, delete the address book or send SMS. Victims may also clock up expensive data charges, but in a worst-case scenario, the virus could completely corrupt the SIM card.
“Most people do not take back-ups of the data and software they have on their phones,” said Marit Doving, spokeswoman for Symbian, which developed the operating system many phones use.
MOBILE PHONE VIRUS SYMPTOMS
Many are similar to those of a PC virus, although there are a few new twists:
- Drained batteries
- Altered icons and malfunctioning applications
- Automatic dialing of numbers in the phonebook
- Inability to make calls
- Corruption of data stored on the SIM card
- Malfunctioning text messaging
If your mobile phone becomes infected, run an antivirus programme immediately.
If the SIM card is corrupted, contact your service provider. For more information on downloading antivirus for your mobile phone, go to SimWorks’ or Symantec’s websites.
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