Mobile virus breakouts could ‘overshadow’ PC threats

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The only thing holding mobile viruses back from wreaking havoc across networks is the lack of an operating system (OS) with a big enough market share, according to a new study.

The report, 'Understanding the spreading patterns of mobile phone viruses’, said that traditional mobile phones had been relatively immune to viruses due to the lack of a standardised OS.

The rise of smartphones has changed things. The study claimed they represent a "fertile ground for virus writers" because they share programs and data with each other.

Multimedia messaging services (MMS) were seen as the biggest problem, with the report claiming that users could be infected “within hours”.

The study said that since 2004 more than 420 smartphone viruses had been identified, with the newer viruses reaching a level of sophistication it took PC computer viruses about two decades to arrive at.

Although the study said smartphones currently represented less than five per cent of the mobile market, the reported 150 per cent growth rate would change things soon.

It said: “They are poised to become the dominant communication device in the near future, raising the possibility of virus breakouts that could overshadow the disruption caused by traditional computer viruses.”

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