Kaspersky ships antivirus tool for cell phones

Russian antivirus specialist Kaspersky Lab on Monday released Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mobile, a product designed to shield mobile phones against malicious software. The security software is available for phones that run the Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems, the company said in a statement. Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mobile monitors wireless connections and scans text messages as well as any data received from a PC during synchronization, Kaspersky Lab said.

Kaspersky is the latest security firm to offer a product for mobile devices. Others, including F-Secure, Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee, also have products out. While threats to mobile devices have been largely theoretical, makers of security software are eager to get their products onto handsets because it is a huge potential market. About 812 million mobile handsets--such as cell phones and smart phones--were sold in 2005, according to market researcher Gartner. That compares with an estimated 219 million PCs in the same period.

[baswwe]

Hmmm...

more software to slow your phone down?

[jabbotts]

sucks but will be necissary

Unless some new security breakthrough happens, cell phones will likely go the same route as more general computers. Once there was only a few computer viruses now there's millions and most systems have at least some kind of virus scanning. As cell phones become more widespread and support more of the functions previously on PC the viruses will likely grow too.

More software to slow your phone down and the worst part is, it'll only become necissary because criminals will make it so.

[baswwe]

Hmmm...

more software to slow your phone down?

[jabbotts]

sucks but will be necissary

Unless some new security breakthrough happens, cell phones will likely go the same route as more general computers. Once there was only a few computer viruses now there's millions and most systems have at least some kind of virus scanning. As cell phones become more widespread and support more of the functions previously on PC the viruses will likely grow too.

More software to slow your phone down and the worst part is, it'll only become necissary because criminals will make it so.