Instant Botnets
With more and more smart phones
inundating the market, there
seems to be a surge in virus attacks as
well. According to recent reports, smart
phones are being affected by a botnet,
which comes in the form instant messages.
At ? rst it seems just like any other
innocuous instant message (IM) that your
friend might have sent to you. However,
on opening it, you dont get to see any
message, instead the botnet application
automatically scans the handset for credit
card numbers, bank statements and secret
passwords.
California-based research ? firm Face
Time Security Lab has identified the
new threat and has declared it as a high-
risk one.
Messaging is the most popular mode
of communication and today it is easier
to chat via text messaging on the go.
Sliced prices have made this method of
communication even more popular. And as
they say popularity also begets problems,
the increasing use of messaging as a means
of interaction has also left room for the
distribution of viruses and malware.
Storing messages also play a vital
role in inviting attacks. Hackers get
access to these messages and use them
to develop malware and botnets. Face
Time Security Lab has already identified
more than 40 unique ? les that have been
used for attacks via instant-messaging
networks, including one that hides the
stealth application in the systray under the
heading fibeh.exe.fl
Federal authorities are investigating
cases of hacking. However, industry peers
feel that community and social network
building exercises through the computer is
acceptable, but extending the same to the
mobile phone is a no-brainer.
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