New Trojan targets smart phones

A newly discovered virus is targeting smart phones running the Symbian operating system, warns F-Secure, an anti-virus company.

The Skulls.L mutant entices users to install the code by pretending to be a pirated copy of the F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus software, vnunet.com reports.

The security software company says the Trojan is based on Skulls.C, and that the code first appeared last November but so far has infected only a limited number of phones. The only difference between the two versions is that the variant masquerades as the anti-virus software.

Once infected, the Trojan breaks all applications on the user`s Symbian mobile phone. This disables messaging, Internet access and other applications, and only the phone`s calling features remain working.

Nokia has downplayed the danger from mobile phone viruses, maintaining it does not consider them a threat, vnunet.com reports.

This follows a report published last week by analyst firm Gartner, identifying mobile viruses as one of the greatest security myths, and claiming that mobile anti-virus software would be ineffective.

"So far we have seen no viruses that can spread without a human around to accept the code; there is no vulnerability in the operating system itself," says Nokia`s senior technology manager, Janne Uusilehto.

"We believe that the virus threat will not be the same as for PCs, because we were aware of what happened in the PC world when the mobile phone platform was created."

The new IBM X41 tablet, billed as "the smallest and lightest convertible tablet available", has been launched in SA via Tricontinental Distribution SA.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet provides full tablet and notebook functionality without sacrificing the battery life, keyboard, portability, docking, accessories, or screen size, says IBM.

The ThinkPad weighs 1.6kg and features a screen that rotates up to 180 degrees, can be folded back and can be used as a clipboard. It also features an integrated fingerprint reader for authentication.