'Smartphone' security

Smartphones are mobile phones with more capabilities than a typical mobile phone, often functioning like a PC.

Smartphone users can download a number of productivity programs, connectivity programmes, games, and utilities including freeware and shareware programmes from untrusted sources. The programmes can be easily installed without network administrators being notified. These programmes may contain Trojan horses or other malware that can affect the user's hand-held device.

There are few security tools available for many of these devices. In some cases users are unable to track security attacks on these phones.

There are several new operating systems and applications running on these devices that have not been thoroughly tested by the market to expose any potential vulnerabilities.

Hand-held devices have a number of communication ports from which they can send and receive data, but they have limited capabilities for authenticating the devices with which they exchange data.

Windows Mobile and Win32 (PC based) software is developed in similar ways, so it's easy for authors of Win32 malware to convert their malware for use against mobile devices.

Malware is malicious software, developed for the purpose of harming computers; examples include computer viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware.

How to Prevent Mobile Malware Attacks

The best way to protect your mobile device is to keep malware off your phone in the first place. Use the same precautions for your smart phone as you would for your Windows laptop or desktop computer.

Look at the Tactical Tech Security NGO in a box site for more information on this issue and some suggested tools for your laptop or desktop computer.

Install mobile anti-virus software

The majority of large security software vendors now have a mobile version of their anti-virus solutions. If you have a smart phone you should give it the same protection you give your desktop system.