smobile

Like some kind of mafia enforcer, Smobile is leaning over your grocery shop's counter and strongly suggesting that nasty things may happen to you and your family.

From a press release issued today:

"No longer are these viruses merely nuisances. These viruses are getting more insidious in nature, smarter in their design, and ultimately more dangerous to consumers, corporate smartphone users and to the carriers who provide service", says CTO of SMobile, George Tuvell.

While the open architecture of Google's Android will allow thousands of developers to create third party applications for the platform, its Linux-based operating system will quickly enable hackers to explore and eventually exploit any security holes in the core Google software as well as third party software.

Of course, if you want to cough up for SMobile's Android security suite, there'll be no need for the company to send Guido around to pay a visit.

Okay, so granted the mobile space will be the next frontier in cyber security, but in my eyes trumpeting risk in a grab for profit is a bit distasteful.

I particularly object to the "Linux-based operating system" bit. They're playing on consumer ignorance here, and suggesting that Linux, well-known as the domain of shady hacker-types and smelly, bearded hippie-communists, is going to attract the wrong sort of attention. FUD, pure and simple.

Smobile has announced that it has created the first security suite that runs on Android.

SMobile's SucrityShield, including anti-virus, anti-spam and firewall, has been ported to Google's mobile OS.

CEO Rick Roscitt is quoted in the press release:

We believe that the launch of Android powered phones will usher in a period when the use of smartphones will skyrocket...As more consumers in
the U.S. begin using their mobile devices as mini-computers for surfing the
web and downloading third-party applications, mobile security becomes of
paramount importance. Without security, millions of people could be at risk
for hackers, spammers and others intent on stealing crucial personal,
financial and even health information from their new Google-powered phones.

In the coming months, SMobile plans to release more apps for Android, including "an advanced application level firewall and system monitor".

It's good to now that my future dream phone is already being protected today from the malicious intents of sure-to-one-day-exist script kiddies and as-yet-imaginary nasty people.