Mobile-to-human virus scare hits Asian nations

Rumours of killer mobile malware travel from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The effects of a possible prank which sparked considerable public panic in one country have travelled to a neighbouring nation, as concern about a mobile phone virus has been passed by word of mouth across the border.

Fears of a deadly virus spreading via mobile phone networks, capable of infecting those who answer infected calls, have spread from Pakistan, where rumours started on Friday and led to mobile providers being bombarded with worried calls, to Afghanistan, where public unease has been so serious that several government figures have appeared on television to appeal for calm.

It is thought the rumours were sparked by a prankster who sent warning messages describing the 'virus' to mobile users. The effect, similar to email virus hoaxes which lead inexperienced users to forward fraudulent warnings of viruses of unprecedented power, appears to have had a similar capacity to spread anxiety and heighten public fears about the often-misunderstood world of malware.

'It certainly makes us giggle when end users appear to be so confused about basic issues relating to technology - but perhaps we shouldn't laugh,' said Mikko Hyppönen of mobile malware experts F-Secure. 'Perhaps this just nicely illustrates to us how big a challenge we have in educating the masses.'

Reports on the scares are at Reuters, here and here. Information and advice on virus hoaxes in general can be found here.

18 April 2007

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