Fergie's Tech Blog

Cross-Infecting Virus Discovered

Dan Kaplan writes on SC Magazine Online:

The first malware to cross-infect a PC and a Windows wireless pocket device has been discovered, the Mobile Antivirus Researchers Association (MARA) said today.

The proof-of-concept, file-destroying trojan, sent to the association anonymously, automatically spreads from a Win32 desktop to a Windows Mobile Pocket PC, the association said.

"With the growing use of hand-held devices, this type of virus may become very prevalent in the future," the association said in an advisory. "For viruses to be more effective, they need to spread across a wider range of devices, including wireless devices. This virus closes the gap between handhelds and desktops."

Jonathan Read of MARA said in an email interview today that previous "crossover" viruses could be found on Symbian operating systems – "and required either Bluetooth on the device and the PC, or the user had to physically transfer the virus on a memory card."

posted by Fergie @ 2/27/2006 03:48:00 PM