SMobile Systems announced that it has prepared and tested a mobile anti-virus update and disinfection tool for its Security Shield platform to help protect Nokia smartphones being attacked by a malicious SymbianOS Worm (also referred to as a Beselo worm) currently spreading on mobile phone networks worldwide.

The virus is being disseminated as a multimedia file (MMS) with such monikers as Beauty.jpg, Sex.mp3 or Love.rm. When installed on the handsets, the malware gathers all the phone numbers located in the phone's contact lists and targets them with a viral MMS carrying a SIS-packed (Symbian Installation Source) version of the worm. In addition to harvesting these numbers, the malware also sends itself to generated numbers. To date the worm only affects Symbian S60 enabled smartphones including such models as the Nokia 6630, 7610, 6680, and N70. However, with modifications, this current attack could spread to many additional smartphone models.

"SMobile has been at the forefront of monitoring and protecting against mobile malware attacks such as the one we are witnessing right now. Sadly, this worm proves that mobile viruses are no longer 'theoretical' in nature, said George Tuvell, chief technology officer of SMobile. "This is a particularly insidious virus that is smarter in design, and ultimately more dangerous to consumers, corporate smart phone users and to the carriers who provide service to mobile customers, than nearly any previous attack that
has gotten into the wild."

Tuvell continued, "SMobile's Security Shield now has been updated to protect against this worm, and to clean any handset already infected with this malware. We quickly identified this threat and developed the appropriate counter-measures to ensure that our corporate, institutional and individual customers have the highest level of security available in the market."