Smartphones could someday be a major target for criminals seeking to attack major wireless networks, warned Research in Motion’s vice president of BlackBerry security.
Scott Totzke said that hackers could convert the smartphones into "rogue" devices that target wireless carriers in something known as a distributed denial of service, or a DDOS attack.
The technique involves hackers using phone signals to order tens of thousands of computers to repeatedly contact a targeted site, slowing or ultimately causing the site to crash.
The tactic is similar to the one used in attacks that slowed Internet traffic in the U.S. and South Korea in July.
"I think that's an area of concern," said Totzke during an interview with Reuters.
A technique involving data packets might be used to bring down a wireless network, but criminals might accomplish their goal with a fairly small number of smartphones, Totzke said.
Malicious software to launch such attacks would probably come from applications installed on the smartphones, said Kevin Mahaffey, chief technology officer of mobile security software firm Flexilis.
Researchers at Flexilis have already identified virus-laden versions of popular smartphone applications such as Google Maps and computer games.
"These are not telephones anymore. These are computers. So people are going to have all the problems on their phones that they have on their computers," Mahaffey told Reuters.
The best way smartphone users can protect themselves is through security patches, which smartphone makers such as Ontario, Canada-based RIM release when a potential security flaw in their devices is discovered, Totzke added.
(redOrbit)
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Topic: ‘Rogue’ Smartphones Could Pose Security Threats (Read 3614 times)
