The use of SMS (short message service) text messages by SA`s 13 million cellphone users has exploded over the last couple of years, with 250 million messages being sent on the Vodacom network alone every month.
Unfortunately, when something becomes so popular, it may be abused. A hoax SMS message is currently being forwarded to unsuspecting cellphone users claiming that if they receive a phone call and their mobile phones displays ACE-? (or similar) on the screen, their cellphones will be infected by a virus.
This is completely untrue and the message is the SMS equivalent of a "crank" telephone call. Vodacom urges cellphone users to delete the message as soon as they receive it, as it is a hoax. This message was originally generated by an unknown outside party with malicious intentions.
The claims that Nokia and Motorola have both confirmed the existence of the alleged virus are untrue and there is no mention of such a virus on the CNN Web site, as claimed.
Cellphone users should note that the GSM cellular system as used in SA is the most secure cellular system in the world and not vulnerable to attacks by viruses.
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