DailyTech - RIM Exec: Attacks Targeting Smartphones Likely

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Gadgets RIM Exec: Attacks Targeting Smartphones Likely
Michael Barkoviak - November 19, 2009 8:56 AM

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9 comment(s) - last by HrilL.. on Nov 19 at 4:20 PM

Smartphones could face serious security risks as criminals begin to target the popular devices

Research In Motion Security Chief Scott Totzke recently said there is a chance smartphones could one day be hijacked and turned into rogue phones on a much larger scale than what is being discovered now.

Totzke, who is RIM's VP of BlackBerry Security, claims summer DDos attacks against South Korea and the United States, reportedly led by North Korea, could also plague smartphones in the future, which will force phone makers to pay close attention to any bugs or errors.

Specifically, infected phone apps with added viruses could be used to hijack other smartphones -- and more mobile security professionals are finding compromised apps being shared. For example, researcher from Flexilis discovered an infected version of Google Maps being shared to phone owners.

As the popularity of smartphones increases -- and wireless providers keep shifting subscribers towards smartphones -- criminals are expected to move into the sector and begin exploiting phones that haven't been properly secured.

"These are not telephones anymore. These are computers," Flexilis CTO Kevin Mahaffey told Reuters. "So people are going to have all the problems on their phones that they have on their computers."

Security experts urge smartphone owners to download any security patches or critical updates released by the phone manufacturer -- Totzke noted RIM releases security patches whenever a major vulnerability is uncovered.

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Interestingly....

By Samus on 11/19/2009 9:01:32 AM , Rating: 2

My car window was smashed out last week because I left my Blackberry 8830 in the cup holder last week. Who in the hell would steal a tracable/deactivatable phone? I was tracking it with blacktrack but lost the signal...I think they turned the phone off. At least I got all the data remotely wiped out.

RE: Interestingly....

By R6Raven on 11/19/2009 9:16:38 AM , Rating: 2

Well, I think thieves are mostly aware that they are tracable and deactivatable (if that's technically a word...) but are more intrigued by the possibility of it containing a plethora of sensitive information that they themselves could use or sell to someone who could use it instead. People are VERY bad about sending confidential documents and passwords in E-mails, without ever thinking it could be intercepted so easily. You were lucky to get it wiped.

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RE: Interestingly....

By rudy on 11/19/2009 9:52:37 AM , Rating: 2

They also can just ship them to other countries were phone carriers have no problem with activating them. The phones are also good for parts. There are lots of things you can do with phones. They can steal phones and pass them off to a broker whom consolidates hundreds or thousands of them and ships them to places that can use them.

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RE: Interestingly....

By bjacobson on 11/19/2009 9:24:33 AM , Rating: 2

different kind of attack ;)

This doesn't bother me, if you're not a goofball installing sketch apps from some obscure website you won't have any problems.
Blackberries are not that important. It's not like there's a populace of 100m users out there just waiting to be tapped into a zombie net.

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RE: Interestingly....

By Spivonious on 11/19/2009 9:35:38 AM , Rating: 1

More likely the battery ran out.

I think most cell phone thieves aren't after data or care if it's traceable. They just want to call up their buddies and show off their "new" phone.

-1 to you though, for leaving an attractive (to thieves) device in plain sight.

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