Security suite for Android and BlackBerry

To date, Russian antivirus program vendor Kaspersky has found nearly 2,000 viruses, Trojans, and other threats for mobile devices. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the company's founder Eugene Kaspersky told The H's associates at heise Online that although that figure is nothing compared to the number of Windows contaminants, it is nonetheless rising exponentially.

At the MWC, Kaspersky presented a new version of its security suite for smart phones. The main new feature is support for Android and BlackBerry. In addition to virus protection, Mobile Security 9 also includes an anti-theft function and a filter for calls and text messages. Versions are still available for Symbian and Windows Mobile, which even have such additional functions as modules for encryption, parental control, and privacy protection; the latter also being available now for Android.

Kaspersky says that Android is the mobile platform most under attack, as malware programmers are interested in its large number of users. Nonetheless, he thinks the open approach behind Android is the right one and believes that Windows Phone 7 will only survive in the long run if Microsoft opens up the system, which he believes will happen in five years. Otherwise, he added with a grin, Microsoft could always switch to Android.

He expressly advises against rooting Android telephones because the "jailbroken" mobile operating system is then in a situation similar to the first versions of Windows. He also points out that it is not a good idea in general to surf with administrator rights. Kaspersky's Mobile Security is on sale now for £19.99. A free test version is available for download from the company's web server.

(ehe)