The A to Z of security

Orange

Mobile phones have been getting smarter but people, it would seem, have not. Smart phones and PDAs may be able to do all sorts of nifty things with your data but that doesn't mean you won't leave them in the back of a cab or on a pub table. This is where mobile device management - or MDM - comes in.

MDM services enable operators to wipe sensitive data from lost or stolen devices, effectively safeguarding corporate secrets from curious thieves. Back in September a Visiongain report predicted that by 2009 operator and enterprise MDM will be worth $1.3bn - and will grow dramatically after that.

Security from A to Z

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A is for Antivirus
B is for Botnets
C is for CMA
D is for DDoS
E is for Extradition
F is for Federated identity
G is for Google
H is for Hackers
I is for IM
J is for Jaschan (Sven)
K is for Kids
L is for Love Bug
M is for Microsoft
N is for Neologisms
O is for Orange
P is for Passwords
Q is for Questions
R is for Rootkits
S is for Spyware
T is for Two-factor authentication
U is for USB sticks/devices
V is for Virus variants
W is for Wi-fi
X is for OS X
Y is for You
Z is for Zero-day

But mobile security is about more than just cleaning up after the event.

Mobile malware has been on the threat radar since 2004 - when the Cabir smart phone worm, which used Bluetooth to attempt to spread between Symbian Series 60-based mobile phones, surfaced - albeit tagged as 'very low risk'.

Mobile viruses have provoked much debate around whether they are an actual or theoretical threat. Many in the industry have accused antivirus companies of massively over-hyping the issue, or else are sceptical that a real risk is currently posed to users.

Mobile operator Orange, however, has been taking the threat more seriously.

Back in July Orange signed a deal with F-Secure to provide security for its users' smart devices at a cost of £1.50 per month - saying, although the risk is "reasonably low", it hopes to act before mobile viruses become a serious problem.

Orange is the first UK operator to attempt to flog mobile antivirus to its customers. Whether it's being prescient or opportunistic remains to be seen.