| Defending Cell Phones and PDAs Against Attack
As cell phones and PDAs become more technologically advanced,
attackers are finding new ways to target victims. By using text
messaging or email, an attacker could lure you to a malicious site or
convince you to install malicious code on your portable device.
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What unique risks do cell phones and PDAs present?
Most current cell phones have the ability to send and receive text
messages. Some cell phones and PDAs also offer the ability to connect
to the internet. Although these are features that you might find
useful and convenient, attackers may try to take advantage of them. As
a result, an attacker may be able to accomplish the following:
- abuse your service - Most cell phone plans limit the number
of text messages you can send and receive. If an attacker spams you
with text messages, you may be charged additional fees. An attacker
may also be able to infect your phone or PDA with malicious code that
will allow them to use your service. Because the contract is in your
name, you will be responsible for the charges.
- lure you to a malicious web site - While PDAs and cell
phones that give you access to email are targets for standard phishing
attacks, attackers are now sending text messages to cell phones. These
messages, supposedly from a legitimate company, may try to convince
you to visit a malicious site by claiming that there is a problem with
your account or stating that you have been subscribed to a
service. Once you visit the site, you may be lured into providing
personal information or downloading a malicious file (see Avoiding Social
Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information).
- use your cell phone or PDA in an attack - Attackers who
can gain control of your service may use your cell phone or PDA to
attack others. Not only does this hide the real attacker's identity,
it allows the attacker to increase the number of targets (see Understanding
Denial-of-Service Attacks for more information).
- gain access to account information - In some areas, cell
phones are becoming capable of performing certain transactions (from
paying for parking or groceries to conducting larger financial
transactions). An attacker who can gain access to a phone that is used
for these types of transactions may be able to discover your account
information and use or sell it.
What can you do to protect yourself?
- Follow general guidelines for protecting portable devices -
Take precautions to secure your cell phone and PDA the same way you
should secure your computer (see Cybersecurity for
Electronic Devices and Protecting
Portable Devices: Data Security for more information).
- Be careful about posting your cell phone number and email
address - Attackers often use software that browses web sites for
email addresses. These addresses then become targets for attacks and
spam (see Reducing Spam
for more information). Cell phone numbers can be collected
automatically, too. By limiting the number of people who have access
to your information, you limit your risk of becoming a
victim.
- Do not follow links sent in email or text messages - Be
suspicious of URLs sent in unsolicited email or text messages. While
the links may appear to be legitimate, they may actually direct you to
a malicious web site.
- Be wary of downloadable software - There are many sites
that offer games and other software you can download onto your cell
phone or PDA. This software could include malicious code. Avoid
downloading files from sites that you do not trust. If you are getting
the files from a supposedly secure site, look for a web site
certificate (see Understanding Web
Site Certificates for more information). If you do download a file
from a web site, consider saving it to your desktop and manually
scanning it for viruses before opening it.
- Evaluate your security settings - Make sure that you
take advantage of the security features offered on your
device. Attackers may take advantage of Bluetooth connections to
access or download information on your device. Disable Bluetooth when
you are not using it to avoid unauthorized access (see Understanding
Bluetooth Technology for more information).
Author: Mindi McDowell
Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization. Terms of use
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| | Last updated
August 09, 2006 |
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