NewLC - The Most Important Aspects of Arising Mobile Virus Building. - Comments

> The Most Important Aspects of Arising Mobile Virus Building.

Antony Pranata — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 22:01:28 +0100

IMHO, the situation should be better in Symbian OS 9 because we have Platform Security, based on Trusted Computing Base. They have introduced "capability" to make sure that only trusted applications can run on the user's phone. Even if the user install an unsigned application, some "dangerous" APIs will still require user's grant. For example, an unsigned application won't be able to send "unknown" SMS unless the user grant it. It is a single shot grant and not performed during installation. Each time the application is going to send SMS, the OS will ask user's permission (exception: if the application is signed with trusted certificate, then single shot grant is not needed). Furthermore, some "high level" capabilities require certification (mandatory), otherwise the application cannot be installed. But, as you said, it depends on the PKI, but there is a feature to revoke certificate once something goes wrong.

Anyway, I agree that Symbian OS programming is very difficult (the learning curve is too steep). The Symbian Signed program also will kill small companies (although they have special programs for freeware developers).

Antony

> The Most Important Aspects of Arising Mobile Virus Building.

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:00:58 +0100

The English in this "article" is absolutely terrible.

It looks like it was translated from google or some other automated system.

Viruses on Symbian mobile phones require the user to say "Yes" at least three or four times -- anyone stupid enough to do this deserves to get a virus.

> The Most Important Aspects of Arising Mobile Virus Building.

g01den — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 15:52:35 +0100

I had a pleasant surprise when I read this article.
For a long time I didn't see the article with that serious and easy styles for understanding and with so strong analysis of the problems.

The Most Important Aspects of Arising Mobile Virus Building.

mavgroup — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 10:11:50 +0100

This article focuses on tendencies in evolution of harmful programs for smartphones highlighting Nokia Series 60 with Symbian OS as a prominent example. The authors analyze the policy of Symbian regarding smartphones protection and explain the mechanism of some well-known Trojans.