MARCH 01, 2006 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - A mystery is deepening around a report about the emergence of a virus that can pass from a PC to a mobile device, with some antivirus vendors saying they have not seen the code to confirm it.
The Mobile Antivirus Researchers Association (MARA) said Monday it anonymously received the code, named "Crossover." Microsoft Corp., whose software the virus reportedly affects, said Wednesday it is investigating the reports but has not heard of any customer complaints.
MARA officials were not immediately available to comment further.
Antivirus vendors said they will update their software to detect and remove the virus if they are allowed to analyze it. While vendors typically send virus samples to each other to update their products, MARA has not been forthcoming with a sample, said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos PLC.
At the moment, the antivirus community only has MARA's word that the virus exists, Cluley said.
"We would still love to see a sample of this and determine if this is a potential threat to our customers," Cluley said. "It's a little bit disappointing that they are not sharing the sample."
The virus, MARA said, is the first one engineered to infect a Microsoft Windows desktop computer and then pass to a mobile device running the Windows CE or Mobile software, subsequently erasing files.
The question thats still jumping in my mind is, is it real or not? Should I worry about it? Is it worth investing money in some sort of virus protection for PPC?
Good find though.....
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"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside." Robert X Cringely
Addition who needs that kind of stuff any way huh?
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When it's this early in the "game", there are so many theories as to what this could all mean:
1. There are people sick enough, and with enough time on their hands, to code these viruses and have them attack the software giant Microsoft
2. It's a conspiracy to justify software vendors existance. These viruses are planted on purpose (by Microsoft? or a paid hire of Microsoft's?) in order for the virus detecting companies to turn a profit.
All kidding aside, this is serious stuff. I rely on the tools I've purchased (computer, PDA, software) to assist me on a daily basis. If these tools are crippled, it takes up my valuable time. People who aren't into computers or electronics don't truly understand the frustrations we endure. Just think of the untold hours you've spent on technology over the years. Some of the time it's fun, sometimes challenging, and other times you hate it. I remember spending over 10 hours on my daughters computer removing a virus. To extract the data before it was lost, and before the reformat - that sucked. Now my trusty PDA may be at risk?
And the *ssholes who write the viruses claim that they are providing a service by showing us the weaknesses on our systems, when the truth is most of them are just bored frustrated twits who can't get a date so they do this instead.
This reminds me of shoplifters who feel that they aren't hurting anyone but a large corporation when of course they cost each of us a substancial amount anytime we purchase items frequently stolen because the loss the company faces from theft is made up for by higher prices.
The truth is what these hackers are stealing from us is our time and our computer performance. Do people realize how much of our processor power is eaten up by Virus scanners, Spyware scanners, blockers........
We all knew the day was coming, even us mobil users will be clogging up RAM protecting our systems because pricks are always inventing ways to ruin other peoples days. In a few years we will be looking back at when we didn't have to worry about these kinds of things.
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I am studying MS VB05 right now, so if you can give me any tips or need some help on something I would be glad to help(or try).
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the virus writer will be wasting his time. if i get a virus on my pda...just hard reset and restore it from my last backup and the pda is good as new...the end.
The question thats still jumping in my mind is, is it real or not? Should I worry about it? Is it worth investing money in some sort of virus protection for PPC?
.....
The answer is that it is not yet worth it to spend the money. As vincentnyc mentioned, all you need to do at this point is hard reset and reload (either from installations or from a backup). Until something comes along that can destroy the ROM ... you don't really have much to worry about. If you keep backups you have even less to worry about.
If you're anything like me - ActiveSync is a thing of the past. I used it to setup my connection to exchange (once), and now I install everything from cab files which I keep stored on a file server and also on a CF in the device.
If the worst case scenario of a virus infection making its way to my axim happened, I would hard-reset and reload from a backup. If I absolutely had to I could reinstall everything from the cab files and relicense them since I have all my keys available on the device.
This virus that was written honestly would have absolutely no effect on me in its current form. :approve:
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(my 0.02$ here..) maybe the Antivirus companies are writing virii just because they want to sell their antivirus.
That's why they demand an annual fee (and not a one time payment) for their products..
And the *ssholes who write the viruses claim that they are providing a service by showing us the weaknesses on our systems, when the truth is most of them are just bored frustrated twits who can't get a date so they do this instead.
This reminds me of shoplifters who feel that they aren't hurting anyone but a large corporation when of course they cost each of us a substancial amount anytime we purchase items frequently stolen because the loss the company faces from theft is made up for by higher prices.
The truth is what these hackers are stealing from us is our time and our computer performance. Do people realize how much of our processor power is eaten up by Virus scanners, Spyware scanners, blockers........
Totally agree with you on this one. :approve:
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There is a nice company (Grisoft) that releases FREE antivirus (for personal use!) for PCs .. (AVG Antivirus)
I wonder if they can port it to the pocketpc.. meybe its just a re-compile using WM libraries.. (now idea..I am not an expert to this!)
Also, CLAMAV is free too (AFAIK) , lets hope that a skilled programmer will port it to PPC.. :)
Anyway, I will email a request to Grisoft for PPC, I think even a *ONE-TIME* paymet (say 30-40$) its ok ! (as developing costs).
Am I the only one who truly sees the truth here? Look at that image...it's the Lawnmower Man come back to reek havoc on all of us unsuspecting and technology dependant people. I say we run...run for our lives and never turn back!
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MARCH 01, 2006 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - A mystery is deepening around a report about the emergence of a virus that can pass from a PC to a mobile device, with some antivirus vendors saying they have not seen the code to confirm it. 
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