Mobile Phone Virus
Author
Discussion

schueymcfee

Original Poster:

1,577 posts

294 months

Friday 15th July 2005
quotequote all
If you receive a call from XALAN, don't answer it, just reject.

Apparently when answered it wipes your phone registry rendering it useless.

So I've heard. :)

slinky

15,704 posts

278 months

Friday 15th July 2005
quotequote all
Yet another urban myth perchance??

slinky

bigandclever

14,357 posts

267 months

Friday 15th July 2005
quotequote all
But then again...

"Variants of this hoax have been circulating since 1999. The information in the email is completely untrue and has certainly not been "confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia". If a virus had really destroyed the mobile phones of 3 million US users it would be a major news story around the world. There is nothing on the CNN site about this virus nor does a search of Google News reveal any articles that confirm the story.

"However, there are legitimate news articles about a real mobile phone virus that was discovered back in June 2004. This worm, dubbed "Cabir" is basically a "proof of concept" virus and does little damage. Vnunet.com reports that the first outbreak of this virus "in the wild" occurred in Singapore in early October. Although Cabir is virtually harmless, it does indicate that mobile phone virus attacks are possible and may become a significant threat in the future. News of Cabir may also be giving new life to this old mobile phone virus hoax.While mobile phone viruses are real, experts maintain that the potential threat of such viruses has been exaggerated.

"In any case, the information included in these emails is false and the "warnings" should be deleted without forwarding. Any "virus warnings" received via a forwarded email should not be taken at face value. Always take the time to confirm the information at a reputable anti-virus website. "

www.hoax-slayer.com/mobile-phone-virus-hoax.html

For Cabir, read XALAN. Or ACE.

>> Edited by bigandclever on Friday 15th July 13:40

schueymcfee

Original Poster:

1,577 posts

294 months

Friday 15th July 2005
quotequote all
Ah

Move along, nothing to see here!

off_again

13,917 posts

263 months

Friday 15th July 2005
quotequote all
But be aware that there are a very small number of virii out there which can affect mobile phones. Fortunately they still requie the interaction of the user to "accept" the connection so they are pretty limited in reality.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39205921,00.htm

Unlikely to see the same problem with Windows based computers on mobile phones, but caution should always be used....