NOW READ THIS
("Security Advisory")
Submitted by: Bill Hickey
NCVA List Master
NRT-0383 Nokia Handsets Hit by Worm:
Security vendor Fortinet has uncovered a malicious SymbianOS
Worm that is actively spreading on mobile phone networks. The SymbOS/Beselo.A!
worm is able to run on several Symbian S60 enabled devices, including handsets
such as Nokia 6600, 6630, 6680, 7610, N70, and N72. The malware is disguised as
a multimedia file (MMS) called Beauty.jpg, Sex.mp3, or Love.rm. After
installation, the worm harvests all the phone numbers located in the phone's
contact lists and targets them with a viral MMS carrying a SIS-p;acked (Symbian
Installation Source) version of the worm. IN addition to harvesting these
numbers, the malware also sends itself to generated numbers as well. Fortinet
says all the numbers thus far are located in China and belong to the same mobile
phone operator. The worm seems to be spreading in the Europe, Middle East, and
Africa region. "When you want to seed or inject worm in the wild, then you
may want to seed in high populated areas," according to Fortinet.
"The Chinese mobile operator concerned is the largest in the world with 300
million users."
(www.computerworlduk.com 23JAN08)