virus in the N7650

It's fairly unlikely that you'll get a virus from any J2ME apps that you may install, since they can't access the file system and are quarantined to their own area of memory.

I'm not going to say that a virus isn't possible, but probably not something to really worry about.

Don't think so. We are running on Symbian OS not windowsCE

thanks for all your intelligent and quick response

[quote="Edgedale"]Don't think so. We are running on Symbian OS not windowsCE[/quote]

WindowsCE is a virus, isn't it?

[quote="TANKERx"][quote="Edgedale"]Don't think so. We are running on Symbian OS not windowsCE[/quote]

WindowsCE is a virus, isn't it?[/quote]

Actually a great operating system 😃 I'm using a 7650 with an iPaq 3870 and it's as powerful as it can get 8)

[quote="ErectionJackson"][quote="TANKERx"][quote="Edgedale"]Don't think so. We are running on Symbian OS not windowsCE[/quote]

WindowsCE is a virus, isn't it?[/quote]

Actually a great operating system 😃 I'm using a 7650 with an iPaq 3870 and it's as powerful as it can get 8)[/quote]

Quite a simple OS too, what with only the three keys. 😉

Why not a virus for the symbian os,this os is no different that any other os,if there are virsuses and worms for *nix os's why not for symbian os. Personally i dont want one.I'm not a great coder and i cant make a virus but i bet that i can make an app that will delete all of your C: drive files (that's lame,i know),but imagine what those C++ gurus can do if they get pissed off.

One more thing,i would not put Windows CE in the OS's group,more suitable is i GUI,badly done even.Dont you agree? 😊 😊

i bet that i can make an app that will delete all of your C: drive files

Sure, you can develop an app to do that, but how are you going to get people to install it on their phone in the first place? If it's a J2ME app, you've got no chance. Like I said, they can't even access the filesystem!

It's not impossible, but I don't see it becoming much of a problem... then again, the world was thought to be flat! 😉

Well it is possible to write a Symbian App withe the SDK! And how do you get ppl to install it??? Well you just say that it is a FREE MPEG-4 recorder that supports bletooth and MMS! There you go! 😊

And then as soon as people comment on what the file does, other people stop downloading it! As I keep saying...it's not impossible!

Yes you are right merlin, but there are possibilities to hide it in a prog that does something else like a filemanager, and used your contacts to send it maybe but anyhow, we really dont want that, and we dont want to put ideas into ppls minds. :roll:

But then again imagine the publicity! The first Symbian Virus for mobile phones! This will make headlines!!!! BAD IDEA!

Imagine the antiviral program profits,sky high? This gives ideas 😊

<Rant>

It has been stated in the past that the biggest threat to computer security is Microsoft! Why? Because of the lack of security in the various Windows components. For example, the ability for Outlook to ignore the fact that you don't want to display html e-mails. That's just one example.

How many anti-virus programs and companies can you name for the Linux operating systems? Personally, I can't think of any, though they may exist, it's certainly not a common thing.

A properly designed, secure operating system can prevent these sorts of problems. Linux is the proof of this. I don't yet know enough about the OS for the 7650 (though I'm about to look into development soon), but I'm sure these sort of security issues will have been addressed.

I've owned a Psion Series 5mx since they were first available. For those that don't know, Psion is a member of Symbian, who developed the operating system for the 7650. Of all the files I downloaded for my Psion Organiser, I never once came across a virus.

It's not something I'm worried about. 😉

</Rant>

[quote="merlin"]<Rant>

A properly designed, secure operating system can prevent these sorts of problems. Linux is the proof of this. I don't yet know enough about the OS for the 7650 (though I'm about to look into development soon), but I'm sure these sort of security issues will have been addressed.

[/quote]

It is as easy to write a virus for both Linux and Symbian as it is for Microsoft products. The reason Linux has had only a few and Symbian has had none is that these OS simply do not have enough users base for virus writers to bother.

The scum that write virus want the glory of watching the virus spread and if they are really good, they even might make the news. If you hit Microsoft products then you are reaching 95% of the PCs in the world, so it�s far more productive to spend your time attacking MS products. You also attack the "average" user. These are the people who do not apply service packs or update their anti virus s/w, whilst a Linux user is likely to be a administrator and therefore understands the importance of applying patches before its too late.

ashby

It is as easy to write a virus for both Linux and Symbian as it is for Microsoft products. The reason Linux has had only a few and Symbian has had none is that these OS simply do not have enough users base for virus writers to bother.

Sorry, but can you back-up that comment? How can it be as easy to write a virus for Linux as it is for Windows? If you know anything about operating systems and the way in which priveledges work on Linux as opposed to Windows, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have come out with such a statement.

As for the user base being 95% of PCs in the world running Windows, please explain how you came up with this statistic? 😮

To ashby.You dont have a clue what you are talking about,the reason there are less viruses and less antiviral software apps for linux is because of security fetures.Ex:ext2 (now,ext3,xfs,raiserfs) filesystem,user menagment.Its not hard to write i virus that will afect linux,you can even with not so much trouble port a native windows virus 😊 The point is,how the virus will efect the system.If the viral program is started with a normal user (Non root user) the virus will have efect only on the current user and it will not efect system files ,because of the good user menagmeng in *nix systems (So there is small amount of damage)The only way for the virus to efect the whole system is to be started with a Administrato/root user.I tried to be less techincal about this as i could.By the way,your data about 95% windows PC's out there is totally incorrect.

GhostDog, well said! 😉

Thankyou for all who help up in this thread.

But I think it's already off the main topic of this forum (Nokia 7650) 😊 .

Whooh,

I think that that both merlin and Ghostdog have missed my point.

I did not want to start a �OS1 is better than OS2 debate�

In response to your comments:

Doing a quick surf of the net, the percentages that are commonly quoted vary between 80-95%. These results differ, as no one really knows. A lot of users doubt these figures as they claim that several OS, Linux included, are free for download so no one can accurately say what people are using. If you go on the amount of PCs that are sold with a MS OS pre installed then the % is higher. But no one knows for sure. My point was that if I was going to write a virus I would go for the biggest audience (I presume no one is going to argue that OS X or Linux have got more users than MS)

As for Linux being less susceptible to virus attacks, again, this wasn�t my point. My point was that every system is vulnerable if enough people attack it and/or people have enough hatred for a product. Yes some are easier than others but nothing is perfect. (otherwise the Slapper virus wouldn�t have materialised on Linux) Before you right me off as a MS lover, I have a Red Hat 8 beta and a XP box under my desk, both in constant use.

As I work for a ISP, my office is full of people who are so passionate about their OS that at the slight mention of a fault and they instantly jump down your throat, totally missing the intended point.

The intended point was: Nothing is perfect, every thing can be attacked. However it is unlikely that people will spend the time writing virus code to get around Symbian as it has a limited audience.

(not to start an unrelated OS war)

Ashby

it is unlikely that people will spend the time writing virus code to get around Symbian as it has a limited audience.

If you had just said this in the first place, it would have saved the long discussion! 😉

Ok,my bad.But you should read up on viral programmer profiles,you would be amazed,everybody wants to be first in something 😊