Freely subscribe to our NEWSLETTER

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.

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.