There are over 500 known mobile-specific viruses globally and this number is steadily growing.
So says Lorcan Burke, CEO of mobile network security company AdaptiveMobile. "It is no surprise that a typical mobile operator cleanses in excess of 100 000 viruses a day, with some operators seeing thousands of infected handsets sending at least 200 to 300 SMSes each day."
SA's government has started to address this problem, with the introduction of a self-regulated legislation, Burke says. It drives this together with the Wireless Application Service Providers' Association (WASPA).
The legislation outlines regulations that operators need to follow to protect minors from adult content across mobile networks, he adds. However, introducing regulation will be largely futile unless emerging technology is used to implement such policies.
"Contrary to common belief, unlike PC security, mobile security cannot be installed solely as an end-point product," Burke explains. "If an operator, however, offers security over the network, the user does not have to waste a second worrying about security and spam on their mobiles."
Tools are now available that can provide customer protection across all mobile technologies, threats and media types, Burke says. This includes protection against illegal or inappropriate content, viruses and malware, unsolicited messaging and unauthorised communications.
These tools allow mobile operators to offer parental controls to protect minors, and to extend corporate security policies through to mobile assets. Burke says they work across all mobile services, all forms of access and for all media, including mobile Internet, images, music, voice and video.
Subscribers will be ultra-sensitive about the security of their mobile network, in light of the spam and mobile malware problems, he says, particularly when considering mobile banking. Operators need to reassure them that they are taking decisive action to protect their subscribers, or the huge potential offered by this market will never be realised, he concludes.
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