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Guys... there are different Symbian OS - this includes the Nokia Communicator series, the Nokia and Siemens Series 60, and then the Sony Ericsson and Motorola UIQ Series. THe viruses being spread have thus far only affected the Series 60 platform. This is an important fact that must be communicated. There are many ways of protecting yourself through simple user management. Keeping your cellphone "discoverable" on Bluetooth is like screwing without a condom. You're simply an idiot looking for trouble.
Why was this feature added to all new Bluetooth devices? - this was done because of Blue Snarfing - not Blue Jacking. Blue Jacking, which involves sending a phonebook entry to an available Bluetooth phone, is an innocent and fun thing to do. There can be no malicious intent unless the message contained is in itself malicious.
Blue Snarfing is another story - this involves a computer being used to access available Bluetooth devices (including cellphones, PDAs and laptops). Here the attacker hacks the victim's Bluetooth device with the intention to steal information like contacts of documents being stored on the phone. You cannot Snarf with a cellphone as it lacks the ability to "hack" into the OS of another phone.
The ability to change the discovery mode of a cellphone, PDA or laptop was introduced to add security to Bluetooth devices. When in discoverable mode you are visible to other users. They can scan for your device and REQUEST to pair with your device. They have to first pair before they can send a file WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. They can of course send, but you still have to accept the connection before you can receive the file.
When the discoverable mode is deactivated, no one NOT PAIRED with your device can see you. ONLY DEVICES PREVIOUSLY PAIRED can view you and connect to you. THen again the connection can only be made if you have allowed this device to pair without consent. This is used for, in my example, my cellphone being detected automatically by my PowerBook and the link being made automatically when the two devices come within range. It allows me to exchange files without a need to pair each time. This does not make me visible to others, nor can anyone else link to my PowerBook (which is also in the hidden Bluetooth mode).
Hope this helps. Nokia phones are safe - it's the users that are being silly or just darn right stupid. Nokia was one of the first companies to introduce these Bluetooth modes.
Here's an example of what my PowerBook keeps to recognise friendly devices (note that things have been change to protect the innocent):
com.apple.CGMR
"R374_G_0E.40.3ER_A"
com.apple.GMR
"R374_G_0E.40.3ER_A"
com.apple.IMEI
IMEI35351XXXXXXX666
com.apple.bluetooth.address
00-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX
com.apple.company-name
Motorola
com.apple.device-name
Sunshine RAZR
com.apple.model-id
com.motorola.razorV3
com.apple.model-name
Razor V3
Here you'll note that this connection relies on two unique codes being matched - in addition to the phone's name (user specified) and the software version - it also needs the unique Bluetooth device number (00-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX) which is assigned by my PowerBook to devices that are paired with the Apple. Each device will receive a unique number that identifies a channel that this device will be given. The second code is the phone's IMEI number which is also stored on the PowerBook. Now, I don't know how the phone does this but I'd assume in much the same way. On the PowerBook the Apple OS keeps track of things like synch history and services the phone can use and will access. It also lets the Apple know what this phone will used for - example GPRS / UMTS internet connection. When I attempt to connect to the Internet using 3G the PowerBook will look for the device that has been assigned for this connection - which was set by myself when I paired the phone. Also features like connecting my Apple Address Book for calling, dialing and SMS. I had to assign a device for this purpose, so the PowerBook will only use this device for that purpose no matter how many phones I've paired, and that are available to the PowerBook.
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[ This Message was edited by: WirelessMonkey on 2005-06-18 13:50 ]
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Posted: 2005-06-18 14:36:25
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On 2005-06-18 08:19:58, brix25 wrote:
..the P-series can also be infected as well as any phone using the Symbian OS but most of the viruses have targeted Series60 phones from Nokia.
Series 60 is often described as the weakest link in the Symbian chain. Of course the fact that its also the most popular does not help matters. Most Symbian viruses target Series 60. I am yet to come across one that infects UIQ or series 80.
For example, accepting Cabir on a P800 poses no problem. It won't get infected.
But as has been explained above, getting a virus off your Symbian phone is a piece of cake. Again, your phone cannot get infected if you follow some simple principles. The first of this is: Never accept unknown files or known files from an unverified source.
Addendum: MonkeyMan just put it the way it is above
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This message was posted from a Nokia 9500 Communicator.
[ This Message was edited by: AYA on 2005-06-18 13:41 ]
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Posted: 2005-06-18 14:37:33
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@WirelessMonkey: The Nokia 6310i was made to be Bluelacked...whenever I detect this phone in a crowded area I rub my grubby hands in glee for the mischief about to follow.
This message was posted from a K700i
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Posted: 2005-06-18 14:53:01
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On 2005-06-18 14:53:01, brix25 wrote:
@WirelessMonkey: The Nokia 6310i was made to be Bluelacked...whenever I detect this phone in a crowded area I rub my grubby hands in glee for the mischief about to follow.
This message was posted from a K700i
Brix... my dear brutha... you are but a learner and for this reason I wish to share what I know with you... good grief I'm like a grandfather in age difference and I should be tweaking glass tube transistors and gas filled processors - but here I am dispensing crap about something I actually don't know much about ha ha - DUDE! ... the 6310i was like yonkers oud! That thing is so so so a part of history and the BT issues with that blast from the Nokia archives dates back to a time when dinosaurs grazed on top of Table Mountain... okay I know that there may still be some American dinosaurs batting about the Table top... but it's an ancient phone and doesn't feature with respect to Bluetooth security. In fact, it's probable an example of how bad BT once was.
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Posted: 2005-06-18 17:41:10
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@Monkey Man: You'll be suprised how many people still walk around with the 6310i... which was the last of a breed. I think I need to post this on the "I did something naughty" thread.
This message was posted from a K700i
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Posted: 2005-06-18 18:53:38
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Oh Brix my dear Brix... you live in the past dear brutha. You must look ahead and embrace the future which is Apple paired with Sony Ericsson's K750i / W800i and soon to be launched S700i and P910i successors. Life's to short to keep living in the past. Be bold - embrace the future... that said... Nokia, Samsung and Motorola will also be blowing our socks off with some really beautiful creations of their own.
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Posted: 2005-06-18 19:21:11
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Hello again. I just want to ask IS CELL C REALLY GOING TO USE VODACOM'S 3G NETWORK? If thats true then there can only be one language to describe that and thats afrikaans: Dit is n bol KAK! Sorry. But cell c only signed a deal with Vodacom to use the GSM network(I think). I know Cell C is new and its okay if they use the GSM network but when they want to use a TOTALLY new service like EVERYONE else, they have to pay their own "fokken" 3G masts! Oh just btw im also a Vodafan
Do prdele Buňka C musit běh a do prdele jeden kůň ( či MTN ) ona ar spravedlivý Mesiáš vše autobus , ne délání látka lacino! Běh Vodafone Jak se máte?
[ This Message was edited by: sIssIs on 2005-06-19 10:08 ]
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Posted: 2005-06-18 23:26:43
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@slssls: Someone on here mentioned something about Cell C's plans for 3G, think it was in Business Times a week ago. I'm not sure about them using Vodacom's UMTS network...which would be a crazy story IF there was any truth in it.
BTW: What language was that at the end?
This message was posted from a K700i
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Posted: 2005-06-18 23:53:48
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czech. Umm.... yes well I hope it isn't true. Oh WirelessMonkey what DStv channels are available on MTN's 3G? Because Voda3G has a MNet (with some programs) on demand trial which I think they are testing if the people uses it.
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Posted: 2005-06-19 10:57:06
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On 2005-06-18 23:26:43, sIssIs wrote:
Hello again. I just want to ask IS CELL C REALLY GOING TO USE VODACOM'S 3G NETWORK? If thats true then there can only be one language to describe that and thats afrikaans: Dit is n bol KAK!
[ This Message was edited by: sIssIs on 2005-06-19 10:08 ]
The relationship between Cell C and Vodacom is renegotiated periodically each time Cell C extends its roaming arrangement with Vodacom. Cell C would to include 3G in any future agreements, as it had to do with GPRS. However, Vodacom subscribers always take priority over Cell C subscribers (I don't want to go into all the other technical issues that protect the Vodacom customers but suffice to say that they enjoy a full and unaffected service over the Cell C users).
With respect to Vodacom 3G availability to carry any new Cell C traffic - I quote from the annual Vodacom report:
"the number of active 3G users on (Vodacom) as at March 31, 2005 was
10,853 and the number of active Mobile Connect Card users on the network as at
March 31, 2005 was 5,105."
That's just 16 000 users nationally out of a total of 15.5 million GSM users and 800 000 GPRS users (based on 5% data users). So it's not difficult to see the Vodacom 3G can very comfortably carry Cell C 3G users. In fact, this will only benefit Vodacom 3G as it makes it more profitable. I think the Vodacom boys are acting wisely.
As for MTN - MTN launched EDGE and GPRS+ which gives them an immediate customer base of 300 000 users. Now, if only all these wonder full technologies would actually work it would be amazing. I'm luck to get one day a week of decent and acceptable quality of data connectivity on either Vodacom or MTN. It's frustrating, and I think that the average user would simply lose interest in using GPRS if they tried using the services.
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Posted: 2005-06-19 13:17:37
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