ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- The threat of a computer virus on your smart phone is not only possible, it's growing, say cybersecurity experts.
With millions of Americans adopting fancy new mobile technology, antivirus giant McAfee has released a report saying those phones are tempting targets for attacks.
Hillary Hillhouse, from Snoqualmie Ridge, said she uses her phone for everything from directions to banking to online shopping.
"I wouldn't know what to do without it," said Hillhouse, who owns an iPhone.
"I surf the Internet a lot with it," said Issaquah resident Diana Duke.
In its fourth quarter 2010 report on online threats, McAfee said they've now identified almost one thousand threats specifically targeting mobile devices, up 46 percent from 2009.
Most of the threats target Nokia's Symbian operating system, which is the world's most popular smartphone software.
The report also warns of a potential growing trend of malware on Google's Android OS.
"Cybercriminals currently have a window of opportunity to exploit a variety of mobile platforms," said the report, noting that many companies are still working on new safeguards and firewalls to account for the different security loopholes of so many smartphones.
"You could compromise your account information, your financial information, your banking information," said local tech advisor Chris Pirillo.
Anti-virus apps for phones do exist. Trend Micro has a program that helps verify websites one visits from their phone, said Pirillo. AVG has an virus scanner for Android phones. But the McAfee report warns that the threats will likely grow more sophisticated in the coming years.
"Ultimately, you have to be thinking," said Pirillo. "A person is always going to be the weakest point for any amount of exploits out there."
One big area of concern is regarding app marketplaces offered by different companies. Pirillo said hackers know free wallpaper, music, and ringtones are tempting, and often package spyware and malware as easy downloads.
Conspicuously missing from McAfee's list of threatened devices, however, are Apple's iOS and RIM's Blackberry OS. Pirillo said he prefers Apple because it vets every single app that posts in their market, a contrast from Google's open Android Marketplace.
"As far as consumers are concerned, they're much safer with the way Apple does things than Google," he said. "And yeah, I'm all about open, but come on. Do you really want an open frontier on a device you carry around with you?"
The McAfee report is available by clicking here.
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