So the first ‘worm’ for mobiles has been discovered – that took a while then 😉
http://www.kaspersky.com/news?id=149499226
“Cabir” does not contain a destructive payload but can transfer itself via Bluetooth to other Symbian devices and could be considered a proof-of-concept for what can be achieved. I guess it’s only a matter of time before a malicious version appears in the wild.
Again this underlines the importance of secure code-signing to protect unsuspecting users from malicious applications. Symbian has started their “Symbian Signed” program, but unless users are educated about the potential dangers and are made aware of the damage that can be done by blindly installing rogue apps, then I predict widespread chaos on mobile networks.
http://www.symbian.com/press-office/2004/pr040518.html
Operators can assist by automatically scanning content that is downloaded via their networks, but as Bluetooth circumvents the commercial wireless networks, there is little that can be done to protect yourself other than installing personal firewall and anti-virus products on your own device.