Where the Dangers Are

The WSJ has a special report on cybercrime with security experts predicting that things will only get worse.

Related to cell phones:... "In the future, security attacks will come out of thin air. Smartphones and some personal digital assistants boast always-on wireless connections and run more-sophisticated software than standard cellphones, making them susceptible to viruses, worms and data theft just like PCs.

The hackers' current pathway of choice: Bluetooth. This radio technology allows short-range wireless communication for sending messages, exchanging electronic business cards and using wireless headsets. But hackers can exploit flaws in Bluetooth to steal information from digital gadgets or spread viruses.

For now, mobile viruses have done little more than drain their victims' phone batteries and send off text messages using their account. But bigger threats may be coming. The invasions so far were merely "science projects" for hackers wanting to see if they could attack mobile devices, says Victor Kouznetsov, senior vice president of mobile solutions for McAfee. "They discovered it's not that hard."

emily | 10:32 AM | Spam, Viruses and Hoaxes |
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