August 26, 2002 6:26 AM PDT
Japanese phones vulnerable to hackers?
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Handhelds: Here come the bugs?
March 19, 2001
So far, no serious virus attacks have been reported in Japan--or anywhere else--but tech security companies say cell phones could become targets as they turn into sophisticated, high-tech devices like PCs, allowing people to send e-mail, surf the Internet and shop online.
"I think all the devices that can be connected to the Internet are at risk...and cell phones and personal digital assistants are the most vulnerable ones," said Yuji Hoshizawa, a researcher for Symantec Japan, a unit of U.S.-based Symantec.
"It could happen any time," he added.
Hoshizawa said cell phones may get hit by a Trojan horse program that erases data on mobiles or a worm that replicates itself over a network and performs malicious actions like shutting down handset programs.
Japan stands a good chance of becoming the first target because 78 percent of mobile phone users currently access the Internet to get information on travel or stock prices or to download games.
Symantec and other anti-virus software producers such as Network Associates Japan and Trend Micro, Japan's largest security software maker said they were working closely with Japanese wireless carriers.
Concerns are likely to rise as mobile Internet services like "I-mode", offered by NTT DoCoMo and now adopted by some European carriers, become more widely available and as global roaming becomes more common with the introduction of third-generation (3G) phone services.
So far, no special measures have been taken by Japanese mobile operators because no serious incidents have been reported by users, but they are aware of the dangers.
In 2001, NTT DoCoMo warned of an e-mail that would dial an emergency number if opened. The bug was soon fixed and a DoCoMo representative said the company had had no virus problems since.
Analysts say cell phones may be more susceptible to computer viruses as users include children and the elderly who are relatively less aware of security issues.
Story Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
