Ways to protect mobile phones from viruses, trojans

Chennai, May 5 (UNI) With hackers now turning to mobile phones to break into corporate networks, F-Secure Corporation, a company that protects consumers and businesses against computer viruses and other threats from the internet and mobile networks, gives new tips to help protect mobile phone users from such attacks.

F-Secure Corporation, in its recent study, said a good example of mobile threats were viruses like Duts and Cxover. Viruses and Trojans like Comm Warrior and Cardtrap.T have made a transition from PCs to mobile phones.

The tips included being familiar with all the features of one's mobile phone and switching off Bluetooth/WiFi when not in use, which would protect the user against mobile malware. Anonymous incoming connections, applications or messages via Bluetooth should never be accepted.

The company asked the users to avoid using anonymous/unknown security software and pirated software available free of cost or at economical rate which could potentially cause damage to the mobile.

Besides, security software(s) should be updated on a regular basis.

The study said it was necessary to know how a virus infected SMS or MMS would look like, as also a Trojan, another type of mobile malware that causes phone services like Messaging, Web, and Camera to go kaput.

It said users should think twice before storing important or sensitive information on mobile phones. External storage card should always be removed before giving a phone for servicing as even erased data could be recovered from a mobile phone. It is also necessary to remove personal information before selling a phone, to avoid any recovery by the future owner. Besides, one should have back up of all the information stored on the mobile phone.

Users should always keep a copy of the serial or IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their phone so that the phone could be blocked if it ever gets stolen or lost.

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