Another virus for Series 60 phones uncovered - MABIR

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Security firms like U.K.-based F-Secure and Symantec on Monday reported a new malicious program called Mabir.

Unlike its predecessor Cabir which inflicts only Nokia phones, Series 60 handsets from other companies are susceptible to Mabir, Tim Hartman, Symantec Asia-Pacific's senior technical director, told CNETAsia. Siemens and Samsung are among the handset giants that have also licensed the Series 60 platform.

In contrast, Mabir will "listen" for incoming MMS and text messages on inflicted phones and replies them with an MMS message containing the program, according to F-Secure. Other than Mabir's installation file, the "MMS messages that Mabir sends do not contain any text message", the company added.

As with previous smart phone viruses like Cabir, users have to agree to go through with the installation program before the Trojan can launch itself. Mabir does no apparent damage to the infected handset beyond trying to spread to other mobile phones.

Symantec has rated Mabir as a "low" distribution worm as it is slow to propagate. As a security precaution, he advised users to turn off their phones' Bluetooth function when it is not needed and to set their handsets in hidden Bluetooth mode when using peripherals such as wireless headsets.

Source : http://asia.cnet.com/news/security/0,39037064,39224769,00.htm
 
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