Do smartphones need security software?

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For the mobile phone malware problem to escalate, we will need to see one dominant operating system and a real incentive for financially-motivated hackers to target phones rather than the millions of poorly defended desktop computers out there. At the moment, this just doesn’t exist.

If you are concerned about mobile phone security, here are our top five security downloads for your mobile:

Sophos Mobile Security
Sophos Mobile Security is currently available to download for Windows Mobile devices, and protects against malware attacks transferred via MMS, SMS, e-mail, instant messaging, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The software allows you to scan your device on on-access, on-demand or scheduled scanning. If it finds a virus or spyware, Sophos Mobile Security quarantines the file in question and an alert is sent to the network administrator.

F-Secure Mobile Security
F-Secure Mobile security features a firewall in addition to a virus detection system, and protects Windows Mobile and Symbian smartphones against viruses, worms, trojans, and other mobile malware attacks.

It runs in the background so there’s little disruption to a working day, although when it detects an attack, you have to decide what to do with the infected file.

Software updates are performed over the air through Wi-Fi, GPRS and 3G, and again runs in the background so you can be sure your antivirus software will always be up to date.

Kaspersky Mobile Security
Like F-Secure’s solution, Kaspersky’s Mobile Security software is a firewall in addition to antivirus. It also features anti-spam and anti-theft protection too.

If Kaspersky finds an infection during or after scanning, you can decide whether to quarantine the infection, leave it alone or delete it.

Unlike other mobile phone security solutions, Kaspersky also offers a device protection service called SIM Watch that will alert you when another SIM card is put into your device after being stolen. The phone automatically sends you the new telephone number so you can track down the thief and your phone

Trend Micro
Trend Micro is available in two versions – Enterprise for businesses and a standalone solution for personal mobile protection.

The software features antivirus protection, antispyware firewall tools and antispam in a complete package.

A black list feature allows you to blacklist sources that you don’t trust so you won’t get any dangerous messages from them, while those on the white list are deemed safe.

Trend Micro also monitors inbound and outbound network traffic, so your colleagues won’t get viruses on their phones passed on from you.

Updates occur whenever the phone can make a connection to the network, whether that be wirelessly or via a computer.

Norton Smartphone Security
Symantec’s smartphone protection software, called Mobile Security Suite 5.0 is based on Symantec’s computer solutions. It features a number of different security measures to prevent anyone accessing your files in addition to protecting against viruses.

Features include anti-virus and firewall with an on-device folder encryption, device lock, tamper protection and network access control capabilities.

Norton Smartphone Security requires a device lock from administrators to access the device interface. When a phone using the software wakes from a period of inactivity, you must enter a PIN to resume access.

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