Recent analysis of data from AdaptiveMobile’s mobile operator customers suggests that two virus variants – CommWarrior and Beselo – are causing particular damage. While CommWarrior only affects Nokia Series 60 phones, Beselo attacks all smartphones, spreading via Bluetooth and MMS as a Symbian SIS installation file and is growing at four times the rate of CommWarrior.
One major operator, an AdaptiveMobile customer that prefers not to be named, has seen a rise in virus attacks from 0.5 per cent of all messages to six per cent over the last 12 months. On average, this operator receives 100,000 virus incidences a day, up from 70,000 in just one year.
Gareth Maclachlan, COO of AdaptiveMobile, comments: “It’s a worrying trend that’s not going to slow down yet. Fortunately, most subscribers are not infected as viruses are still immature and of limited virulence; but those who do get infected can lose up to 100 EUR a day from the MMS being sent by the virus. As these are typically corporate users with the latest phones, and who do not scrutinise their bills, operators are concerned that their best customers will churn if a competitor offers a solution.
“Protecting its users should be the first priority for any mobile phone provider. As infection rates continue to rise and higher proportions of customers are left at risk, mobile phone security will become a key differentiator for customer creation and retention – particularly among large organisations keen to ensure their staff are properly protected. The battle is heating up – and mobile operators have to make sure they are competing effectively.”
AdaptiveMobile’s Policy Control Framework is used by tier one mobile operators globally, sits on the network and protects subscribers against viruses, malware, illegal and inappropriate content, unsolicited and unauthorised communications, preventing it reaching the network. It works across all mobile services (WAP, SMS, MMS, email), all forms of access (Mobile, WiFi, WiMax) and media including mobile internet, text, images, music, voice and video. Mobile operators globally are using the Policy Control Framework to protect their networks and subscribers, respond to regulatory pressures, provide Parental Controls and extend corporate security policies through to mobile devices.