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iPhone could increase Apple viruses
The iPhone might be a catalyst for new Mac viruses and malware admitted anti-virus experts at F-Secure.
The iPhone runs a basic version of OS X, so any malware written for it might attack Mac desktop and laptops too. Although there are a lot of unknowns, there's no doubt that the more devices Apple sells, the bigger a target it becomes. Apple's financial statements suggest its on track to sell 6.5-7 million desktops and laptops in 2007. This makes the 10 million iPhones Jobs wants to sell in 2008 a much bigger target.
A proof of concept trojan horse, where a Safari browser vulnerability meant hyperlinks got the phone to call premium rate numbers, was demonstrated last month.
All research suggests hackers and malware writers are focussing on making money through their work, which hasn't been a major issue up until recently and the well structured and easy to access billing system inherent to mobile phones makes them an attractive target for criminals. In fact, the Russians saw their phone bills go sky high in one such attack last year.
Of course, it's not just the iPhone that is becoming vulnerable to such attacks and a far more pressing concern are insecure spying tools that have serious consequences for our privacy. Iain from Vnunet has more on that though.
F-Secure specialises in mobile anti-malware products and Kimmo Alkio, CEO of the company, said mobile phone attacks aren't a big problem, but are growing, especially since smart phones are set to outsell PCs by 40million units in 2009.
For now, Alkio let the facts speak for themselves: “There are approximately 350 known malware on the mobile phones compared to over 400,000 malewares on the PC.”
Let the FUD* begin.
* 'Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt'
Posted by Barhar | September 28, 2007 12:13 AM
Three **could's
Two **might's
spells FUD clear and simple and not
"... the iPhone that is becoming vulnerable to such attacks ..." rather everything BUT the iPhone - Symbian, Pocket PC anyone?
“There are approximately 350 known malware on the mobile phones compared to over 400,000 malewares on the PC.”
...none on the iPhone and not a single one on OSX.
Your argument is somewhat less spectacular.
Posted by giorgio | September 28, 2007 12:44 AM
A Trojan Horse is NOT a virus.
The iPhone does not generally allow downloading of files. This makes it exceedingly difficult for a would-be virus to spread. It can't simply propagate to othe iPhones because the iPhone can't usually download.
Posted by James Katt | September 28, 2007 9:56 AM
Actually there have been a few OS X viruses knocking about over the last few years.
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html
Admittedly, the number is about five (I recall) and only the ignorant would believe OS X is immune from viruses.
If it was big as Windows and Windows was the minnow on the PC front, then Apple would have all the virus problems.
Posted by Jens Topaz | September 28, 2007 10:00 AM
Forget the iPhone. With a Jphone you could really hack.
Note the emphasis on the 'J' with this phone. Putting the emphasis where it belongs, on our JVM.
One day every hacker will have the Jphone to hack to their heart's content. Won't that be proper? A phone that not only incurs FUD but actually fulfills it.
Posted by Gosling | September 28, 2007 1:41 PM
I am so sick of the FUD. There is not a single OS X virus that ever saw the light of day so far. No one ever claimed it could never happen, we just ask you to look at the facts. So far, there is absolutely NO REASON to ever run a virus program.
AS IF hackers were God like and they could attack anything they wanted so long as they wanted to. This is total hogwash. They go after the low hanging fruit.
OS X is a MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE TARGET than windows. I mean, really, who HASN'T written a Windows virus already? Be the first one to write a real Mac virus, not a coulda, shoulda, proof of concept. Be the first one to make headlines. You know what, I'm not holding my breath. It could happen, but so far NOTHING. Yes, it's possible, but this is not news.
Instead, why don't you right about the POSSIBLITY that you PC would someday be secure?
Posted by Brian | September 28, 2007 2:11 PM