Is your smartphone are security risk? -JoongAng daily

Most computer users wouldn't t dream of from their desktop or laptop open attacks, viruses and malware.

Guess what? Your smartphone at risk as well as cyberattacks. No, just that, but you never had to leave the computer in the cab or in the bar, but it can happen with a smartphone. And then the alien could all highly personal information, continue past your mobile device.

As the wonders of mobile computing start sinking in with consumers so they are anxious. And in Korea, it is almost non-existent security awareness for mobile devices. But the risks are real.

Example: reports emerged yesterday that the older version of Cocoa, and it's one of the most downloaded applications in Korea, is exposed to major cyberattacks. Cocoa is the Mobile Messenger service through which people can send and receive messages to a mobile and Wi-Fi.

WINS Technet, a local area network information security company, said the 1.3.4 version of Cocoa speech for Smartphone that is running on the operating system Google with Android, it was found the security vulnerability that allows hackers to intercept messages, if used Wi-Fi.

IF it is shown to be true, I don t, I ll use [Cocoa] from now on, said Joyce Shin, Cocoa 28letý aficionado, who works in the electronic industry. Shin says, that its report may contain personal data, and even intimate information. I think people tend to be more open and Frank said, because the application is working on their own handset.

Technet with advice on Win last week, cocoa allegedly fired for this version of the application that uses the 1 percent of users, cocoa 10 million.

We advise our users always upgrade to the latest version, which not only includes new features, but also the necessary measures for safety, said an official of the Cocoa.

Cocoa phenomenon highlights the greater threat: Smartphones are increasingly becoming targets for hackers around the world.

According to Symantec, California-based maker of software for computer security, known in the mobile operating systems increased from 115 in 2009 to 163 in 2010.

Experts argue that there are many ways how hackers can attack on the mobile phone, the most popular is to download the application. In the second week of March, Android market, app store for Android phones, hit around 60 malicious applications.

So what are you doing with your smartphone if you want to stay safe? Experts advise people to ensure that all of their applications are the latest version, which may have fix for security lapses in previous versions.

It may have to be done manually from Smartphones don t automatically update the application as a normal computer.

Also advise, download your security software and made using an unsecured wireless network.

Most harmful codes that we found in Smartphones are designed to collect personal information, such as lists of contacts, text messages and other things, said Lee Seong-geun, an analyst at Ahn lab, a computer security company Korea with 1. We advise people to download antivirus software for smartphones.

AhnLab V3 Mobile recently released 2.0, an antivirus program with different security features, such as passwords for important files, limitations of the wireless network connection, as well as for data backup.

And AhnLab is not alone. Companies are rushing to develop a security infrastructure for the Smartphone. Ssomon, Korean tech firm, recently published by the mobile device Management, an application that allows users to delete sensitive files and documents stored on a Smartphone from a remote location, if the device is not lost. SoftSecurity also made similar applications.

Although further development is necessary, security of the information in the mobile arena starts much more attention these days. According to a report by the Agency for Internet Security Korea Korea with information security industry broke the mark of 1 trillion won last year for the first time.

While the largest proportion was taken up by the network security products (accounting for 324.6 billion won), wireless and mobile security products accounted for 26.2 billion won, 80 percent jump from the year 2009.

The wireless and mobile business isn t big, but we expect a sharp rise in the near future, said an official of KISA.

Kim Hyung-eun [hkim@joongang.co.kr]

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