“Many sophisticated tricks of the trade from computers are now being repurposed for phones. However, as phones are often tied into billing systems, the gains can be far greater.”

The article is a good read, but check out the infographic just after the break.

If you thought malware that stole your pics was scary check this out:
"The app records a user's phone calls and then uploads them to a remote server. The app was revealed Tuesday by security researcher Dinesh Venkatesan on the Security Advisor Research Blog, published by CA Technologies, now known as Total Defense."

Your photos aren't safe, anymore. They can be scraped and used against you (blackmail) if you're not careful.

From the article:
"Most interesting is the emergence of trojans which send text messages to premium-rate numbers, generating revenues for the malware distributors."

For the past several years online, social engineers have been trying to fool unsuspecting users into clicking on malicious links and giving up sensitive information by pretending to be old friends or trusted authorities on email and social networks.

Phone hackers on Rupert Murdoch's payroll used old school methods, but a new breed of phone hacker is on the way.

From the article:
"From a BlackBerry perspective, malware represents a different threat to consumers than business users, since BES admins can set mobile application-install polices that stop users from installing non-approved apps. This can drastically reduce the risk of users installing dangerous software.."

However, users who are not hooked into a BES should still be vigilant.

From the article:
"Sure, software exists that can "hack" into your BlackBerry and potentially perform all sort of nefarious deeds. But the security safeguards built into RIM's BlackBerry OS make it extremely difficult for miscreants to do so without the approval, and often assistance, of the BlackBerry user."

Apparently, BlackBerry has long been susceptible to malware. So, why isn't it more of a target today? It just isn't as popular with the masses.

From the article:
"August 2006: Researcher creates first-ever BlackBerry Trojan

Security researcher Jesse D'Aguanno began poking holes in RIM's Teflon by creating the world's first piece of Trojan malware for BlackBerry devices. D'Aguanno showed how he embedded the malware into a harmless-looking tic-tac-toe game. Once the game was downloaded, the malware worked with a separate piece of code to launch attacks on enterprise networks..."

From the article:
"The trojan installs silently and then notifies its administrators that the compromised device is ready to receive instructions. Trend notes that an infected BlackBerry can be forced to block calls and phone numbers, add administrator accounts, turn the device on or off, and forward, delete, and display SMS messages."

Zeus, the Trojan malware that steals banking information by keylogging and form grabbing, is actively targeting the BlackBerry platform.

From the article:
"In the mobile contest, the Blackberry was hacked in only two days by a team of three—Vincenzo Iozzo, Willem Pinckaers, and Ralf Philipp Weinmenn—who used a similar technique to that which took down Apple’s iPhone 4."

(This is my *own* take on mobile malware)
Malware has now moved to the mobile device space (transforming into mobile malware) ... Mobile Malware - How to Protect Yourself and Keep Your Information Safe ...

This is a major win in the war against mobile malware. Basically, it means that apps are scanned against a database that looks for oddities. This scanning is done before the app ever reaches the consumer, stopping malware before it reaches your mobile device.

From the article:
"It is extremely important to understand that a smartphone is far more than just a phone and should be treated more like a computer due to the valuable information it stores."

"Within 12 to 24 months over 1 in 20 (5.6%) of all Android phones and iPads/iPhones could become infected with mobile malware..."

Protect yourself by using these four points from Trusteer:
Trusteer also offers up a four-point recommendation for secure mobile banking which I think are worth repeating here:

*Check rating, user reviews, and comments for each mobile application you download. Avoid low rated, new applications, and bad reviews.

*Carefully review the permission requested by Android applications when you install them. Applications that ask for access to text messages and other sensitive information should raise a red flag and further researched before you download it

*Have your PC protected with an online banking security software such as Trusteer Rapport, which you can download from your bank’s website. This software can break MitMo attacks by not allowing fraudsters control of the web channel.

*Regularly install updates for your mobile device

From the article:
"The lack of security awareness among cell phone users and carelessness are two of the most important risk factors for smartphones. It is extremely important to understand that a smartphone is far more than just a phone and should be treated more like a computer due to the valuable information it stores."

Get used to it: Malware can't be completely blocked or eliminated. But you can manage your PCs, mobile devices, and networks to function despite being infected