Is There a Mobilephone Virus?[9 Dec 1999]
Remember the time when a virus was said to be infecting mobilephones worldwide? And how subsequently it was discovered to be a hoax. History repeats itself, yet again with more email viruses than mobilephone virus. If you have been a regular recipient of such "fearsome", then you and us are on the same boat.
On our part, we choose the path of ignorance. We just can't live without the mobilephone. If the said virus were real, than let it be an eye opener for us. So far, none of the local operators here have put out any sort of warning.
This is the forwarded email we got:
Subject: FW: Mobile Phone Virus.
Dear all mobile phone's owners,
ATTENTION!!!
NOW THERE IS A VIRUS ON MOBILE PHONE SYSTEM.
All mobile phone in DIGITAL system can be infected by this virus. If you receive a phone call and your phone display "UNAVAILABLE" on the screen (for most of digital mobile phones with a function to display in-coming call telephone number), DON'T ANSWER THE CALL END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY!!!
BECAUSE IF YOU ANSWER THE CALL, YOUR PHONE WILL BE INFECTED BY VIRUS.
This virus will erase all IMEI and IMSI information from both your phone and your SIM card which will make your phone unable to connect with the telephone network. You will have to buy a new phone.
This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia.
For more information, please visit Motorola or Nokia web sites:
http://www.mot.com
http://www.nokia.com
There are over 3 million mobile phone being infected by this virus in USA now. You can also check this news in CNN web site:
http://www.cnn.com
Please forward this information to all your friends who have digital mobile phones.
How true is this?
None of the mentioned websites have any news about this virus. Searching the web turned up inconclusive results. Furthermore, mobilephones are not known to share common programming APIs, thus, it is unlikely that a virus could be introduced to affect every brand of phone. As for downloadable re-programming, it is still being developed. No one has claimed to be a victim in the news or newsgroups.
But despite being skeptical, one should be on guard. Who knows? There was a time when computer virus were confined to punitive damages like hard disk formatting and data corruption. The world was really shocked to learn of CIH when it did the impossible and wrecked the BIOS. The point is, anything can happen when technology is put in the wrong hands.
We have done our part to highlight this email. You have to judge it yourself. Believe it or not? It's your choice.
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