Mobile Virus

From SC Magazine

Lexus cars may be vulnerable to viruses that infect them via mobile phones. Landcruiser 100 models LX470 and LS430 have been discovered with infected operating systems that transfer within a range of 15 feet…

… Bill Gates is a known Lexus driver. In 1999 he auctioned one for charity…

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Now I have to admit to having a overwhelming amount of schadenfreude at the idea of Bill Gates stuck in the multi-level mall parking lot, because his Lexus has a computer virus, and wouldn’t start. However that’s missing the real point of the story.

As cell phones and other devices become more and more complicated and begin to require operating systems, they have started to become the target of viruses. One of the more popular operating systems on cellular phones is Symbian, which has a whole strain of virus emerging, the most recent being gavano according to engadget:

… So if youÂ’re one of the ones who ran patch.sis, which claims to be a Symbian OS patch that needs to be installed, youÂ’ve probably already noticed that your phone crashed. Oh, and it may not even turn on anymore, too. So, what you had was Gavno, and if you had Gavno.b you may have given it to your surrounding friends …

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Part of the problem comes from wireless connection devices such as Bluetooth. This open method of communication makes moving data back and forth much easier. It has even spawned a new pickup method for the club crowd known as “toothing“. Basically you leave you Bluetooth device in discovery mode hoping to get a “pickup line” from an anonymous person in the area. However “toothing” can have far more sinister applications. A security expert was able “tooth” the wireless devices of many high powered English members of parliament and gain access to very personal information.

They’ve Got Your Number
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The second part of the problem comes from sloppy or haphazard care on the equipments operator or owner. So if you have any Bluetooth enabled devices please follow the manufacturers recommendations and lock them down (smart use of Bluetooth)!!!

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