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 Back to 2005 Press Releases
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Gartner Advises Businesses to See Beyond Mobile Malware Hype |
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| Fast spreading virus or worm on mobile devices unlikely before the end of 2007 |
Egham, UK - 18 July 2005 — The conditions required for a virus or worm to pose a rapid spreading threat to more than 30 percent of mobile devices will not converge until the end of 2007, according to new research by Gartner. For this reason, businesses should not focus their immediate wireless security efforts on device-based malware solutions.
Gartner expects that mobile carriers will offer sufficient malicious software filtering capabilities by the end of 2006. However, Gartner urges the industry to avoid the mistakes of the PC world, and ensure that malware protection services are built into the network as opposed to the device.
"Businesses should focus on secure configurations of mobile devices as their most important defence against attacks and look to their mobile carriers to provide network-based malicious software filtering," said Jay Heiser, research vice president at Gartner.
A big difference exists between spyware, and viruses or worms. Viruses and worms contain mechanisms that allow them to spread widely, hitting millions of PCs. Gartner says that certain factors must converge for any mass, fast-spreading damaging attack to occur. These factors are:
- Widespread adoption of 'smart' wireless devices — once smartphones account for 15 per cent of all wireless telephones in use — likely to be no sooner than 2007 — rapidly spreading attacks will be much more likely.
- Ubiquitous use of wireless messaging to exchange executables - viruses and worms cannot infect large numbers of wireless devices until at least 30 per cent of users commonly receive emails with attachments that they routinely store and launch on their devices. Today, this practice is largely limited to exchanging pictures, ring tones and other static file types. However, by the end of 2007, large-scale user-to-user sending of more complex executables will be commonplace.
- Operating System (OS) convergence — The number of mobile device operating systems in use will become more diverse for a time, which will decrease risk, but the end of 2007, the industry is likely to see sufficient convergence to enable a virus/worm attack scenario.
Gartner warns that any individual company that moves to use smartphones and wireless PDAs running single OS's and applications in which users routinely forward executables to each other could see a damaging attack immediately. Businesses should require all software vendors, including PC, PDA and smartphone vendors, to demonstrate they have tested all software for vulnerabilities before it is released to the market.
Press Contact: If you would like to speak to the analyst responsible for this report, please contact Bite Communications on
Tel: +44 (0)20 8834 3508 or email: gartner@bitepr.com.
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About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Gartner serves more than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company focuses on delivering objective, in-depth analysis and actionable advice to enable clients to make more informed business and technology decisions. The Company's businesses consist of Research and Events for IT professionals; Gartner Executive Programs, membership programs and peer networking services; and Gartner Consulting, customized engagements with a specific emphasis on outsourcing and IT management. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and has over 3,900 associates, including more than 1,100 research analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. For more information,
visit www.gartner.com.
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