Asia Express - East Asian ICT
Mobile Communications - Mobile Phones Find their First Virus
June 17, 2004
The first computer virus in mobile phone has been identified. Called "Cabir", the worm attacks handsets adopting Symbian OS and attempts to spread itself through Bluetooth. Infected mobile phones will display the word "Caribe" or "Caribe-VZ/29A" on the screen without substantial damage. A virus-writing group named 29A in Spain has claimed responsibility for the creating the worm. Although Cabir does not present an imminent threat to the mobile phone industry, it has heralded in a time when handsets can as well become susceptible to disruptive viruses.