Smart phones, trojans, viruses, and worms ?

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Yes, and in today's news...

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

cool! just saw your thread, going to read it now!

 

Thanks for the inspiration (and typer's cramp)!

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.

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

 

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.

 

i share your concern. Viruses and such are, IMO, are the biggest threat to our personal and Nat'l saftey.

 

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