Smart phones versus cyber attacks

First the computers were assaulted by viruses. Now it's up to the smart phones to undergo severe attacks.
The cyber attacks against your smart phone are very similar to the ones being launched at your computer. They are sometimes even worse.

The reason why viruses are now also affecting your smart phone is because your phone and computer run on the same operating system. So the smart phones vulnerabilities are the same as the ones on your computer.

It's also really hard to protect yourself against the cyber attacks. Most of us think that the attacks only occur when your smart phone makes connection with the internet, but that's not true. Viruses can also enter through Bluetooth devices and text messages.

I think that's the reason why so many people think they are safe. They think because they never go on the internet with their smartphones, the viruses can't enter.

The major problems caused by the cyber attacks are: a dead battery, other people eavesdropping on your conversations or you being tracked by someone else (via the GPS receiver on the device).

I think those problems are really major. It violates your privacy, knowing that other people know where you are at what time and they can even hear in on your conversations. Those consequences are really frightening when you think about it.

It's also very disturbing. There was a debate, earlier this week, about the politicians using their blackberry's. They would be vulnerable to cyber attacks and precious information could be stolen from their phones.
I think this might be true. There are so many ways cyber attacks can occur and they are so well developed that they can make your phone do anything and they can take all the information they want from it.

Those consequences are something to think about for people using a smart phone. They should be really careful with unknown text messages and pay attention to any irregularity in their phone.

Written by Dieter De Smet

Source: http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2010/02/smart-phone-users-dodging-viral-attacks.html