08 July 2008

"Isexplayer"
The First Malware for S60 3rd Ed?

As I have already said numerous times there is no real danger if you are careful enough, in a matter of fact, you have to do a lot wrong to get infected, especially if you are proud owner of some 3rd edition device.

Now when the platform is hacked and just when we thought we know practically everything there was to know about the 3rd edition of the S60 platform and new security system, I stumbled upon something incredibly interesting. Some intriguing information about the first known malware for the S60 3rd edition platform just appeared on the Internet.

Actually it is an application called "Isexplayer" which acts as a pornographic portal offering myriad "services". Once the .sis file is installed, the software reportedly automatically dials a premium-rate international phone number without the owners' knowledge.

Same as any other Symbian S60 malware, this worm requires authorization from the user to install it and it does ask for your permission before it starts to make calls, but only once during the installation.

Unexpired user could try to install it and to give it requested call permission especially since the program doesn't specify that calls will be automatically made, so you should be careful during installing applications from distrustful sources from now!

However, it isn't clear if this is a glitch in the program or a deliberate attempt to siphon-off money from unsuspecting users.