Smart phones, trojans, viruses, and worms ? | FerrariChat
Buy

Smart phones, trojans, viruses, and worms ?

Discussion in 'Technology' started by thecarreaper, Jul 28, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,058
    Savannah
    #1 thecarreaper, Jul 28, 2010
    I have an ancient Nokia. No texting, ( turned it off) no camera, just a phone.

    I finally have a need for a Smartphone, and am considering leaving TMobile after over 10 years, and going with a Verizon Droid X .

    I have much to learn still about these smart phones, but cannot find an answer to one very important question:

    ****How are these phones protected from getting, and more important spreading Trojans, worms and viruses?****

    I am pretty dumbfounded by the power some of these "phones" have, but i see a terrible way to rapidly spread computer malware.

    also, it seems to me that one could learn how to remotely see and even steal or manipulate info on other peoples phones, unless they have some sort of firewall or personal encryption.

    Can anyone shed and insight on this? the Verizon rep i spoke to had NO Answers.

    thanks.
     
  2. frefan

    frefan F1 Veteran

    Apr 21, 2004
    7,370
    #2 frefan, Jul 28, 2010
    Anything that can download & install apps is vulnerable to a Trojan. ie I could send you a link to download Game X but behind the scenes it sends me your address book, or whatever.

    As far as viruses go, most everything is vulnerable to buffer overflow, but sending that to another phone would be a challenge. Smartphones are increasingly using push technology so I suppose its possible. But not very common as of yet.
     
  3. fiorano94

    fiorano94 F1 Veteran

    May 26, 2006
    6,892
    MW/NW/SE
    #3 fiorano94, Jul 29, 2010
    If you get the droid, before you download an app it'll tell you EVERYTHING that the app is allowed to access. If anything looks suspicious, best bet is to not download it or look up reviews.
     
  4. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    #4 Wade, Jul 29, 2010
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2010
    Yes, and in today's news...

     
  5. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Jul 26, 2004
    15,782
    Full Name:
    IgnoranteWest
    #5 FarmerDave, Jul 29, 2010
    Out of curiosity, since Android is an open source OS, is the application code that a developer writes open source as well? Or are the apps compiled in such a way that even an experienced software developer would be unable to examine the underlying code?
     
  6. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,058
    Savannah
    #6 thecarreaper, Jul 30, 2010
    thank you.

    i went to Verizon, and to TMobile. i have been with TMobile for over 12 years. i drove 45 minutes one way to a TMobile storefront. There is a Verizon store less than 5 minutes from me. The folks at the TMobile storefront were polite, but not very helpful, nor did they seem to care that i had been with them forever, in phone service terms.

    i called the TMobile customer number, 611. I was going to just cancel my service, on the way to Verizon to get a new Droid.

    The super keen person that answered at TMobile got a manager on the phone, who spoke to me, and asked me questions.

    In summary, he gave me a killer deal, on a great package for being with them for so long, and i get a permanent monthly discount because of who my employer is.

    I will have a new Samsung galaxy S Vibrant in a few days.

    All of this was done on my 9 year old Nokia handset over the phone, as i had left the retail store.

    so i am sure i will have more smartphone questions in a few days!

    Thank you Raymond at TMobile.
     
  7. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

    Mar 27, 2004
    16,343
    N of NOLA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #7 4re Nut, Jul 30, 2010
    Congrats. You inspired me to post my own TMobile adventures: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=139782882

    I've had two previous Samsungs (though clam shells) without a problem so I think your Vibrant and my four(!) Touches should be around awhile.
     
  8. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    #8 Fast_ian, Jul 30, 2010
    That's entirely up to the developer - There are many different "models" - "Free to do with as you will", "free for personal use only", "pay up", etc etc. You write it, you decide how to license it.

    "Experienced developers" can always examine the underlying code ;) [What's sometimes tough is getting the "overlying" code - Using your terminology...... ;)]

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  9. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,058
    Savannah
    #9 thecarreaper, Jul 30, 2010
    cool! just saw your thread, going to read it now!
     
  10. 4re Nut

    4re Nut F1 World Champ

    Mar 27, 2004
    16,343
    N of NOLA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #10 4re Nut, Jul 31, 2010
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2010
    Thanks for the inspiration (and typer's cramp)! :D

    The Vibrant sounds like a cool phone and I'm getting sucked into Google world domination so I like that it is Android powered though as a blind tech follower I don't really know what that means. :eek:

    Interested in your feedback, maybe you'll inspire me again in a year or two. :D
     
  11. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,058
    Savannah
    #11 thecarreaper, Jul 31, 2010
    i ordered a bigger sd card, and a new case with a screen cover for it. i am going to turn off / delete the apps that i dont need, and see how it does.
     
  12. kosmo

    kosmo Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
    1,569
    BIg D
    #12 kosmo, Aug 3, 2010
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2010
    i share your concern. Viruses and such are, IMO, are the biggest threat to our personal and Nat'l saftey.
     
  13. Chefsfavoritefood

    Chefsfavoritefood Rookie

    Aug 15, 2010
    1
    #13 Chefsfavoritefood, Aug 15, 2010
    Ok so my boyfriends laptop got a virus on it and we think it was the thing that said MOM.exe. We have tried everything. He has no anti virus installed ad the Internet is not working. Firefox won't open at all and Internet explorer won't open any website. We have tried safe mode and deleting things and nothing is workin. I don't know what to do without downloading an anti virus software. He usually fixes problems like this in no time but he's at work ad can't look at it right now. If anyone has any idea how to fix this
    Please help
     

Share This Page