Are Smart Phones as Smart as Hackers?

Are Smart Phones as Smart as Hackers?

Posted by John B. Frank Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Bank of America has launched a specialized mobile banking application for BlackBerry smartphones. The software is available at mobilebanking.bankofamerica.com//bbapp and it is available for BlackBerry devices with an Operating System 4.2 or higher.

With that said, Tom Wills, from Javelin Strategy and Research wrote an amusing blog post this morning...

Android: Beware the Dark Side

"Picture this. You’re the proud owner of a shiny new Googlephone. You’ve just spent the best part of Sunday afternoon getting it configured and transferring your data onto the device, and now you’re ready to load up on some cool apps. Browsing one of the Android download portals, you’re overjoyed to see that your financial institution has a mobile banking application available, and with a few deft clicks, you download it to your handset.

You eagerly launch the app, and then the fun starts. Or … hang on … maybe this isn’t so much fun. The screen goes dark for few seconds, and then your device freezes. The only way you can turn it off is by sticking a hairpin into that little hole on the back, and when the device reboots, all of your data is gone. Address book and calendar – both wiped.

Then later that evening, several of your friends and business contacts (including the one who interviewed you on Friday for that job you’ve always wanted) email you asking why you’ve been sending them messages offering to sell them C1ali$ and V1agra. You know that kind of message. Turns out that the friendly looking banking app was actually a virus..."

He goes on to ask if he's being paranoid or writing sci-fi. The answer is neither.

continue reading at Javelin's blog site

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