Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions, announces that the first malicious program classified as a Trojan-SMS has been detected for smartphones running on Google’s Android operating system. Named Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a, it has already infected a number of mobile devices.

The new malicious program penetrates smartphones running Android in the guise of a harmless media player application. Users are prompted to install a file of just over 13 KB with the standard Android extension .APK. Once installed on the phone, the Trojan uses the system to begin sending SMSs to premium rate numbers without the owner’s knowledge or consent, resulting in money passing from a user’s account to that of the cybercriminals.

The Trojan-SMS category is currently the most widespread class of malware for mobile phones, but Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a is the first to specifically target the Android platform. It should be noted that there have already been isolated cases of devices running Android being infected with spyware. The first such program appeared in 2009.

“The IT market research and analysis organization IDC has noted that those selling devices running Android are experiencing the highest growth in sales among smartphone manufacturers. As a result, we can expect to see a corresponding rise in the amount of malware targeting that platform,” says Denis Maslennikov, Mobile Research Group Manager at Kaspersky Lab. “Kaspersky Lab is actively developing technologies and solutions to protect this operating system and plans to release Kaspersky Mobile Security for Android in early 2011.”

Kaspersky Lab recommends that users pay close attention to the services that an application requests access to when it is being installed. That includes access to premium rate services that charge to send SMSs and make calls. When a user agrees to these functions during the installation of an application, the smartphone may then be able to make calls and send SMSs without further authorization.

The signature for Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a has already been added to Kaspersky Lab’s antivirus databases.

Using the knowledge gained by developing antivirus and security applications for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm and iPhone, SMobile engineers began development of VirusGuard for Android more than a year ago. SMobile VirusGuard for Android will allow users to scan their devices and memory cards for over 400 known instances and variants of mobile Malware. SMobile will also offer parental controls that will allow parents to closely monitor their child’s cell phone voice and messaging activities to ensure they are safe.

Currently, VirusGuard for Android is available to consumers at www.smobilesystems.com and www.handango.com . In early Q1/09, G1 users can visit the Android Market Place to purchase and download VirusGuard for Android.

[via Android Community]

With this latest launch of its Mobile Security product, F-Secure now provides a complete security suite with firewall, antivirus and antispyware functionality for all the main mobile platforms running an open operating system: Windows Mobile, Symbian and UIQ. F-Secure Mobile Security can be subscribed from selected mobile operators as a service, purchased directly from the F-Secure eStore at: http://www.f-secure.com/estore or bought from resellers worldwide. The product will be available during the second quarter.

The list of supported devices is constantly expanding and consists today of over 150 smartphones. The up-to-date information can always be found from the mobile-device optimized F-Secure Mobile Portal under http://mobile.f-secure.com.