According to a recent Wall Street Journal, smart phones are the last risk of online security. BlackBerry, iPhones and other personal devices connecting to the Internet are rarely protected by firewall or security software. Not only can hackers use spyware to read your e-mails and text messages, they can also track the location of your device. So far, there have been a handful of reported mobile attacks, and the reported attacks tend to consist of spam or stolen contact information. Chris Hoff, chief architect of security for security software provider Unisys Corp. said that while the pirated smart phones have only been a nuisance at this stage, "it will certainly escalate." Experts predict that soon go online without having to install anti-virus software on your smartphone will be as unknown as not using security software for your computer.
Flexispy is a program sold to husbands and wives who suspect their spouse of cheating. It allows the user to track the location of the phone and read text messages, emails and call logs. The information is uploaded to a server and the person who installed the software can read these data stolen from his personal computer. This software could easily be used to steal confidential company information.
Some smartphone applications include software that creates vulnerabilities hidden capture programs keys. BlackBerry that do not use the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software are particularly vulnerable to spyware. According to Dan Hoffman, chief technology manufacturer of software security SMobile Systems Inc., the iPhone is also susceptible to hackers, because the password protection are not difficult to circumvent and the iPhone does not encrypt data. "White Hats", a group of ethical hackers who try to educate potential security vulnerabilities have been able to successfully deliver malicious software to an iPhone.
Many companies are currently developing encryption software and new spyware and virus protection designed specifically for smartphones. Although smartphone vulnerabilities are typically does not lead to identity theft or other fraud at this stage, it is still important to be informed of future trends in security threats. When you use your smart phone and especially when downloading applications, keep in mind that your phone is less safe than a computer.
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