DATE=09-30-02

TYPE=English Programs Feature

NUMBER=7-37902

TITLE=High Tech World: Cell Phone Viruses

BYLINE=Rosanne Skirble

TELEPHONE=(202) 619-2806

DATELINE=Washington

EDITOR=Rob Sivak

CONTENT=

ATT: This is another in a bimonthly series of discussions on computers and information technology featured on VOA's "Our World" with New York technology writer Peter Meyers.

INTRO:Over the last few months a wave of computer viruses has seriously threatened the security of personal computers around the world. While experts struggle to prevent new attacks, some observers worry that mobile phones might be the next virus target.

The conditions are certainly ripe, given the worldwide popularity of cell phones and the fact that many phones are increasingly connected to the Internet. VOA's Rosanne Skirble asked technology expert Peter Meyers if mobile phones face as much of a risk from viruses as personal computers:

AUDIO: PETER MEYERS/SKIRBLE

PM: Much like a PC (personal computer) virus, a cell phone virus is something that manipulates your phone in a way that you do not want it to be manipulated. Some basic examples of the way that viruses behave once they infect a phone is calling a number that you don't want the phone to call, displaying a message much like span e-mail shows up on PCs when a virus breaks out on the internet, or even disabling the phone completely.

The good news on the cell phone front is that most phones are not powerful enough to let the virus do any damage. In a way that is why viruses have been so successful on PCs because PCs are capable of doing many things and virus developers take advantage of that. At this point, phones can not do much more than make phone calls. They are starting to do more than that, but the majority of the phones out there are just designed to make phone calls and that's a tough environment, fortunately, for virus makers to operate in."

RS: "How do phones get infected?"

PM: "There are three basic ways. The overarching principle is that something has to get into the phone other than speaking on it. Some kind of programming code needs to get into the phone. There are three ways that can happen. The first is via a text message. Some people know it by the acronym S-M-S for 'short message service.' These are the text messages that have become fairly popular. The second is downloading some sort of update to increase or change the function of the phone. The third way would be an e-mail which some phones are capable of exchanging. One of those three ways is typically how the virus is introduced."

RS: "Are there a lot of these viruses out there, and can you give us an example?"

PM: "Again, a bit of good news. Keep in mind that these viruses at this point are extremely rare. There are more hoaxes about viruses happening on cell phones than there are actual viruses, but there have been a few examples. Probably the most well known one was one that happened in 2001 in Japan where a series of e-mails were sent off to subscribers to a Japanese cell phone service and the e-mail triggered the phones to call a police emergency hotline. Another somewhat similar instance happened this past spring in Spain where messages were sent out on a particular phone network. Users of a particular cell phone model found that their phones were disabled. But again, the comforting point at this point is that they are really rare."

RS: "So, why are we talking about them now? Are they becoming a threat?"

PM: "Well, they are. That is unfortunately the consequence that more and more phones are being designed to be capable to do more things than to talk on the phone. They are being made so that they can do things like exchange e-mail, send short text messages, keep calendars. All these sorts of things turn phones into mini-computers. And (that) is just the sort of environment that a virus needs to operate within. The other reason these viruses are on the radar (screen, or have come to our attention) is because people who write viruses are looking for a broad arena to display what they think of as art. And, there are so many cell phones out there that the fear is that virus developers will start eyeing cell phones as a popular forum."

RS: "So, what can people do to protect themselves?"

PM: "Well, the principles are really the same on the phone as they are on a PC, and the most important of those especially for those whose phones that can accept e-mail - is to never to open up a file from somebody you don't know, an attached file to an e-mail. Ninety-nine percent of the time this is the way viruses spread. So, the same principles hold true. A few things are being eyed by cell phone manufacturers as a solution. They can limit the sorts of files and programming code that enter a cell phone like games and ring codes. These manufactures could decide only to let those sorts of programs enter the phone. At this point that is not wide spread."

RS: "So, is this what you are doing to protect yourself?"

PM: "My solution to this particular dilemma is to stick with an old fashioned cell phone that only does voice calls. For now, I'm sticking with the old fashioned approach."

RS: "Peter, thanks for coming in and talking with us.

PM: "Thank you Rosanne."

RS: Technology reporter Peter Meyers. When he is not discussing computers and information technology on "Our World," Peter Meyers is a freelance technology writer in New York City.

NEB/RS/rms