Related
Apart from all the nightmares about making AS 4.2 work with the Wizard at all and then making it RLAD when it does work, there seem to several backwards steps.
Like, the fact that there's no backup facility.
Like the fact that conflicts between PC and PDA only have an option to overwrite one or the other as a default not highlight the issue like previous versions.
:roll:
Any others people can think of ?
DBo.
Yes - assuming you are comparing it to a 3.x version running with a wm2003 pocket pc:
- you can't sync over wifi (I find this REALLY annoying)
- it doesn't sync properly with avantgo (though you can use the avantgo program to sync when the device is cradled)
Chris
it's a complete back'o'****e as far as I'm concerned.
Please email Microsoft support and tell them what you think......Surely can't hurt.
I relented and purchased Sunnysoft's backup manager to replace that bit of the functionality, just something too importantant not to have. It's only $14.95, damn good little app.
Sunnysoft
Yes, much as it offends my cheapskate nature to pay for software. Since it does it's job (unlike most Microsnot sw) and it is cheap (unlike most Microsnot sw) I may actually have to pay for it now the trial has expired.
Ho hum
:wink:
I have never used the old 3.* activesync version since I started with a WM5 phone (HTC Wizard) but in my opinion the 4.* versions have hardly ANY use at all. I had a SonyEricsson P900 before this and the software for that had nearly everything one could need. The reason to disable all the features they had in the 3.* ActiveSync versions is one I will never understand. Does anyone have the Support-Email from Microsoft? We should start a petition and send them the link
1. Wifi + Bluetooth Sync
2. Backup possibility
3. Fix the problems with activesync disconnecting
4. Fix Avantgo and Worldmate sync issues
5. ...
5. Lack of support for .mdb - .cdb conversion
AS 4.1 is, as you say, a bag of ****e.
As for the "security issues" associated with sync over wi-fi - then write some code to allow admins to bloody well disable it not just remove the facility.
Another bag of ****e - the MS BT stack, why do we pay for this junk :x
There's really no excuse for a company as big as Micro$oft churning out software as flaky as this. It's not their first attempt at this, it's not even a beta. When you consider some of the great (and stable) bits of software out there for the pocket PC that have been written by enthusiastic amatuers in their bedrooms. I never had these sort of problems 15 years ago with my Psion Organiser. So much for progress :x
darrin2101 said:
I never had these sort of problems 15 years ago with my Psion Organiser. So much for progress :x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen m8! AMEN!!
Let's not forget the broken uninstall feature...
I might be just just really unlucky, but I seem to loosing the uninstall lottery more time than I win it. As a matter of fact of the last 8 programs I have tried and decided to uninstall from my 8125, none have uninstalled properly - most not at all.
I'm sure this has been a boon for the 3rd party backup program vendors like spb (which is a great product actually) but it really limits ones ability to try before you buy on a production device. Almost makes it so you need a seperate test machine. Is this the method behind the madness?
AS 4.x is truely a step backwards. I'm AMAZED no one has come out with an alternative. But then again I'm not a programmer and so don't know the full extent of what that would involve. I put $50 down. Shall we create a kitty and see who takes the project on? Is it even possible?
Signed,
Unbelievably Frustrated with AS 4.x
Let's not forget the broken uninstall feature...
I might be just just really unlucky, but I seem to loosing the uninstall lottery more time than I win it. As a matter of fact of the last 8 programs I have tried and decided to uninstall from my 8125, none have uninstalled properly - most not at all.
I'm sure this has been a boon for the 3rd party backup program vendors like spb (which is a great product actually) but it really limits ones ability to try before you buy on a production device. Almost makes it so you need a seperate test machine. Is this the method behind the madness?
AS 4.x is truely a step backwards. I'm AMAZED no one has come out with an alternative. But then again I'm not a programmer and so don't know the full extent of what that would involve. I put $50 down. Shall we create a kitty and see who takes the project on? Is it even possible?
Signed,
Unbelievably Frustrated with AS 4.x
Hi Guys
Is there a good firewall that we can use with the universal? Do we really need one?
when i browse the web on my Exec i use it over wifi so is that safe, (my home is protected BUT what about the free HOTSPOTS in the city centre <I trust star bucks with my coffee-do I trust them with my internet security?
Would any of you guys use your PDA's webpage to buy something from a website (ebay) or even online banking?
Im not to fused about someone hacking my PDA through my wifi/internet connection, come on the way I look at it, if some one is that good Im sure they have better things to hack then mine! lol
Im more concerned about if I am going to log onto ebay's webpage how secure is my information while its being sent from My PDA browser to there server?
IL appreciate everyone’s thoughts on this!
YES VIJAY that includes you as well,
GUYS KEEP YOUR REPLIES IN RELATION TO THIS THREAD, if you want to talk about your aunty janes cats dogs friends sisters leg, start another thread!)
You don't need one.
Ward said:
You don't need one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you explain why, please?
@ WARD
why dont we need one? because you say so? lol
come on mate you can not give a one sentence reply and walk away from this, do you know how long it has taken me to write the post?
unless you a allsinging alldancing knowit all---------, well even if you are, give a better reply then "you dont need one"
or dont post at all.
you dont need one
You don't need a firewall now, because:
a) No tools for the PPC are really available at the moment, and
b) What exactly are they going to do when they hack in?
c) More importantly, you won't FIND any firewalls for Windows Mobile.
But as to the question of how safe is the information being sent to eBay; well, Pocket IE (Internet Explorer Mobile) is based off IE 5 and 6, with the same security levels. So if you access something with that little lock icon on, you're pretty secure.
If not, you're taking the same risk as normal browsing.
OK guys come on give better answers then "you dont need one"
we are not all mind readers,
:?:
breakit down, whywe dont need one?
how safe is your data when its sent from your device?
try to read my intial thread and reply to the points in there,
I am sure that you are not naive to think we dont need one because our networks tell its its safe or because microsoft does,
How many times has microsoft security been compermised?
Networks- remmber t-mobile? when there servers where being hacked (one good thing that came out of that was pairs hiltons EMAILS! along with the secrect service but with parisss its was more of like many online service providers, T-Mobile.com requires users to answer a "secret question" if they forget their passwords. For Hilton's account, the secret question was "What is your favorite pet's name?" By correctly providing the answer, any internet user could change Hilton's password and freely access her account. and her pet dog name is!!! Chihuahua
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/12/hacker_penetrates_t-mobile/ )
@ snorbaard
thanks dude
N2h, you're being rather rude, so I would have expected a lot more "you don't need one" replies by now just to spite you. I'll answer your question first, and then detail why I believe you're being rather rude.
--
What you're asking about isn't really a firewall. A firewall is used to prevent certain communications either coming into a machine, or going out of it. E.g. a firewall could be placed on outbound port 80 to prevent users from browsing 99% of the web, or a firewall can and should be placed on inbound port 139 to stop some older netbios 'attacks'.
What you're really asking about is whether the communication you do via your PocketPC - over wifi - is 'secure' in that others can't access your information. The answer to that isn't a simple yes/no - it will depend on a few things.
The first thing to make sure as that the access point you're using has WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) enabled. The bigger the key, the better. This will mean that 'over the air', your information will be encrypted. Anybody who would 'snoop' that information from the air will need a LOT of data, and a reasonably fast machine, to get the WEP key.
The next thing to make sure is that if the information you're sending is rather sensitive, that you send this information to a site which is using SSL. SSL encrypts your data on your PocketPC itself, all the way through the WiFi router/access point, over the internet, bouncing off of satellites - whatever, until it reaches the destination website where the data is decrypted again. The odds of anybody cracking that signal are *very* slim. It can be done, but it takes ages and ages on multiple computers for even the simplest of SSL encryptions. The 'dumb' way to check whether the site uses SSL is to see if the URL starts with "https". The 'proper' way is to check if the padlock icon is 'locked' in PIE (left of the address bar).
The third thing, if you're using e-mail, is to use an e-mail encryption application, such as PGP. I'm not aware if any exist for PocketPC, but I'm sure they do. These basically encrypt your message in a way that it can still be sent by plain e-mail. The recipient then decrypts the message again on their end. Based on the encryption method used and the length of the message, it would take quantum computers to decrypt it to anything meaningful.
--
For those wondering whether you do indeed need a Firewall - no, you don't. You may wish to look into some basic BlueTooth protection if you leave that on a lot, but other than that there are no real intrusion points for a PocketPC that you'd have to be worried about.
Microsoft may turn the PocketPC into some ueberplatform in the future which would make it more vulnerable, or maybe they learned their lesson and they'll keep things fairly secure - who knows.
--
Now then.. as to why you're being rude...
First.. your post - what's with the bold blue text? Do you think it would get people's attention easier? Just makes it more difficult to read.
Second... you address a specific person, vijay555 - who is a very busy person. But even if he wasn't, it's a bit presumptious of you that 1. he would be reading this, 2. he would be interested in replying at all.
Third... you presume that people would go off-topic, in your original post (in large red type, at that). Why not have a bit more faith in fellow man and see what replies roll in, first? Then if people go off-topic, point it out and ask that they try and address the issue you raised in your post.
Fourth... when somebody does answer your post, even if it is a rather short reply, you tell them to either post a better reply, or not reply at all. Don't be surprised if many people will interpret this in a way that will make them not want to reply to any of your posts at all.
--
Edit: and such is the cost of typing long replies - other people reply before you
zeboxxxxxxxxxxxxxx lol
thatsmade me laugh :lol:
thanks mate
FROM ZEBOX (sorryabout the caps hope i dont hurt anyones feeling)
Now then.. as to why you're being rude...
First.. your post - what's with the bold blue text? Do you think it would get people's attention easier? Just makes it more difficult to read.
dude I LIKE USING COLOURS lol
Second... you address a specific person, vijay555 - who is a very busy person. But even if he wasn't, it's a bit presumptious of you that 1. he
would be reading this, 2. he would be interested in replying at all.
tust me he gets around!
Third... you presume that people would go off-topic, in your original post (in large red type, at that). Why not have a bit more faith in fellow man and see what replies roll in, first? Then if people go off-topic, point it out and ask that they try and address the issue you raised in your post.
Fourth... when somebody does answer your post, even if it is a rather short reply, you tell them to either post a better reply, or not reply at all. Don't be surprised if many people will interpret this in a way that will make them not want to reply to any of your posts at all.
all in one, the amount of threads iv read where the converstion has gone off topic----------- so had to make that clear,
andbeing honest Im having a lugh so i dont want anyone to take it personaly if Imake a checky comment,
and zeboxx this ones just for you
You still don't need a firewall for your Pocket PC.
A firewall in the sense I understand it is a filtering application which brackets network access: rejecting unsolicited packet, applying appication based rules and optionally, performing some filtering on incoming content.
You don't need one, because: there is very little need to restrict application access to the network - malicious apps exist, but its so difficult for them to gain a foothold on your PPC without you knowing about it. So on a clean PPC, a firewall does nothing useful. Dropping unsolitcited packets is nice, but your PPC is mobile - not always connected and therefore of extremely low risk of network intrusion - AFAIK, I've never even heard of a case.
Save your money and CPU and carry on. P.S. PPC AntiViruses are similarly useless, don't listen to PR hype.
@@ ward
Ward thanks for that between you and snorbaard my questionshave been answerd
regarding firewalls and website security!
thanks dude
ward, zeobox Suggested that i was rude to you andmay have hurt your feeling , well my apologies hope we can b friends :lol: lol
cheers bud
RE
Quote
"c) More importantly, you won't FIND any firewalls for Windows Mobile."
AIRSCANNER has one, however, its not currently for WM5 yet
Here:-
http://airscanner.com/downloads/firewall/firewall.html
Keep a close watch on AIRSCANNER for the WM5 version though
RE
ZeBoxx
How to protect your PPC when you're surfing at free hotspots?
I believe that the response should be "You don't need a firewall for your WM5 device - yet."
It's very possible that there are vulnerabilities present in WM5 O/S that simply have not been found yet. There may even be vulnerabilities in WM5 that allow people to reset your device remotely, edit and remove information, etc.
Why would there be vulnerabilities in WM5?
Firstly, its made by Microsoft, and Microsoft has a very bad track record when it comes to this type of thing. Secondly, even if all preventions towards vulnerabilities were taken by Microsoft, it's always possible for one smart hacker to link together something that nobody has ever thought about before. Basically, vulnerabilities are always possible.
If there are vulnerabilities in WM5, why havent I heard about it yet?
Currently the number of devices running WM5 are very small. Theyr also very new, and thus hackers havent really begun to try. It only takes one good enough hacker to do it, though.
Therefore I don't think ruling out firewalls as being irrelevant to WM5 devices is the right way to go about it. Currently, theyr not needed, but who knows? In a months time we might all be scrambling for a firewall as some worm runs riot deleting our files..
It would probably be nice to have a firewall available, anyway. 8)
Just thought I would post to point out that when you go online using GPRS most service providers give you a NAT connection which is in practice the same as a firewall. No incoming connections are allowed, you don't have a public IP address.
This is largly because if you had a public IP all the viruses on the net looking for unsecure Windows machines would flood out your GPRS connection and use up all your credit without you doing anything.
chinnybob said:
Just thought I would post to point out that when you go online using GPRS most service providers give you a NAT connection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true - also, nearly all wireless hotspots will do the same thing, generally decreasing the amount of potential hackers to only other users sharing the same hotspot.
If your device ever gets hacked while using a hotspot, look around for the guy with the laptop trying to look the other way. :twisted:
As I understand it, there's built in facilities for port redirection and monitoring in Windows Mobile already. Whether or not you'd wish to use it for anything is down to a coder.
As everyone is saying, there are two distinct issues I see here:
1. Are your communications secure between PDA and Server?
2. Is your PDA secure to external intrusions?
Question 1 is addressed above. Use appropriate good sense, keep an eye out for SSL and https and always be weary of transmitting anything sensitive over an open channel. Would I use my PDA to buy something over the net? Probably not - I barely trust my PC browser (and I wrote and secured it myself), and although there's little reason to trust PIE less, that's not a high state of confidence. I always half expect to get cheated/identity theft-ed over the net. But use good common sense, reliable traders and be weary of all open connections that you don't control.
Question 2.
Intrusions. Again, as everyone is saying - as of now, there's not an enormous amount of damage that could be done to your PDA even if someone could stomp all over it without your knowledge. Worst case, you need to hard reset, and someone steals all your personal info.
However, there aren't many well known exploits that you need to worry about. But, that probably means that there are exploits known to those who would be interested in you.
However, since you're wifi roaming, it's likely your IP is dynamic. Somebody would have to have an idea of where you are and be particularly interested in finding you on the net to track you down. (although that's easy enough to do if they know your habits. Server logs give a wealth of info for free! I can see many visitors to my website directly from warez sites. If I wanted to backtrace to an ISP, a server or a user, the info is there in front of me)
So, someone can find you on the net. They then need to identify you as using a PDA they can exploit. They have to know exploits. They can then get access to your system. What's the worst that can happen? As everyone says, be weary of carrying very sensitive info on you phone, at least unencrypted. They're small things prone to theft and loss. If you would worry if it was stolen from your hand, don't put it on there, or encrypt it. Doubley so if you're using public wifi.
There are exploits to take advantage of your system. I'm working on stuff that could easily be classified as a trojan, and there is live code, years old, demonstrating the techniques.
Best advice: be careful. Your PDA is naked compared to your PC (which is firewalled, anti virused, and anti-spyed already. right?) Just because no one is interested in looking at your PDA's undies, doesn't mean you should flash them around. Use good sense on all public networks. However, given the hardware limitations of our PDAs, I'm inclined to say, better to leave it unprotected but not at risk (ie not carry highly sensitive info), then have CPU intensive protection that's counterproductive and unlikely to be needed most of the time.
Others would have different priorities. You have to judge what you have at stake.
V
VIJAY thanks for the reply your thoughts are allways much appericated.
when you say you have secured your own browser is it a programme that's available on your site or a 1of thing that you did? someone else advised me that netfront 3.3 (or what ever the latest version is) is more secure then ie any thoughts on that.
thanks
N2h
p.s zeooooooobox guess ur sorry ass was wrong after all.
N2h said:
VIJAY thanks for the reply your thoughts are allways much appericated.
when you say you have secured your own browser is it a programme that's available on your site or a 1of thing that you did? someone else advised me that netfront 3.3 (or what ever the latest version is) is more secure then ie any thoughts on that.
thanks
N2h
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He said quite specifically his PC browser. (i.e. not a browser on his phone)
As someone said earlier, just make sure the little padlock is there. SSL encryption is good enough for most things.
Hi,
Can some one please suggest some antivirus software for O2 xda exec .
Thanks a lot in Advance
VJ
You don't need one. Nor for any other Pocket PC or smartphone - just be prudent about what you install or accept via IR or bluetooth and you'll be fine.
AVs waste resources and will probably never be called upon to protect your device from a threat. If such a threat does materialise, the AV will rely on regular updates to catch it - updating every week for years isn't worth the effort - backing up every week and restoring in case
is better because it needs to be done anyway and it protects against much more possibilities.
0-day viruses are a significant threat no AV has yet to adequately fend off and they are the most likely sort of threat a mobile device will face. Currently, there are free pocket AVs - but for how long?
Verdict: Snakeoil.
You don't really need it. PPC people are still not that popular to have viruses (if there is any). Rathre difficult to have one passing to another. If you really want, try this one (I think it is the only one)
google for "air scanner mobile"
all very good advice so far... however if you still want one try eTrust Antivirus which comes free with jasjar or go to:
http://www.clubimate.com/p-6792-etrusttrade-antivirus.aspx
there are others like Trendmicro Mobile Security 2.0, but you are all right. It is not necessary to install AV Software on PocketPCs right now.
thank you very much for all that usefull information
Has anyone else noticed that if they have both Co-Pilot, and the anti-virus application - Both supplied with my Ameo.... and soft reset, the phone will go in some strange loop.
Shows the T-Mobile screen, then the Microsoft Push Email, flashes the today screen for less than a second, back to T-Mobile screen... repeat.
Only way I've seen to get round it is safe mode the unit and uninstall the antivirus.
I know most will say why bother with antivirus... but for a sense of security I would prefer it, does anyone else have this problem? Anyone know of any better anti-virus software? Or a fix for this one?
Cheers
I agree with you that anti-virus software of a good practice. I'm also keen in looking for a good one.
However, I experience what you described when evaluating the spb tips and spb mobile shell. I had to do a safe mode reset too.
eaglesteve said:
I agree with you that anti-virus software of a good practice. I'm also keen in looking for a good one.
However, I experience what you described when evaluating the spb tips and spb mobile shell. I had to do a safe mode reset too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't tend to use SPB Tips, want to have Mobile Shell, had that on my Compact III and thought it was great, but heard people on here reporting incompatibility with Ameo regarding speaker issues so going to wait until the next release...
Or have you got it working well?
Regards
Anti-virus for PDA = 100% Marketing
That's what I think. I'm sorry.
Deleted Post
mahjong said:
Anti-virus for PDA = 100% Marketing
That's what I think. I'm sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can pick up a lot of virus' simply by surfin on the internet with the pop up etc, why can you not pick them up when viewing them on an alternate device?
You will soon have no choice but to add anti-virus to your list of essential applications for the phone. Trust me on this.
I have to agree. There was a time the PocketPC was safe, unless you download warez there was no chance of being infected. Even then it was rare.
Its seems that the success of HTC and the windows mobile phones puts them in the windows desktop attack bracket. Now there are so many, and they are all getting data connections its worth attacking them.
Sorry to say it, but while AV on ppc at the moment is dubious, it will soon be required.
I dont know why WM6 doesnt have DEP (data execution protection) etc like vista. They could make it much more secure but havent bothered.
btw, itxda, sounds like your making a threat there! lol. Your not writing a virus are you?
Consideration 1.
A virus need to be programmed for the machine and OS you need want to infect. Can someone tell me a reported case of a virus programmed for Windows Mobile? Please don't report what Symantec or Panda said about it... I mean a real case reported by some user. None.
Consideration 2.
Virus propagation. The way to propagate a virus is into excutable code (this means EXE files) or finding a way to introduce and executable code in a non-executable file, like a .zip file. Then you need to spread that infected code. How in a PDA? Exchanging files? A few exchange of EXE is done in PDA. Thru the network? Cmon... there is a few opportunities for a PDA virus to exist and a few to spread.
Consideration 3.
Don't get confused. Having PocketPC IE doesn't mean that you are on risk of the troyans or virus or even spyware that IE for Windows XP has. First of all because the code to be executed on a PC is not executable in a PPC and second that the target APIs and files in a PC are not in a PPC.
Consideration 4.
Please don't mention Bluetooth virus. The ones existing (if any) are for Symbian and even in Symbian world there are so many incompatible versions of symbian that a given virus has real troubles to spread in the network.
SO...
If I question the fact of someone coding virus for this particular machine and OS, and I question the regular ways of spreading virus, and I question the network and IE risks... What's left? The marketing interest of anti-virus makers.
All this applies to anti-virus programs for Apple Mac, Linux of all kind, symbian phones... and phones in general.
Motorola got a lot of market share in USA... doesn't someone ever in USA got a virus on a Motorola? Never ever. Same for PocketPC. Trust me.
Regards,
mahjong
mahjong said:
Consideration 1.
A virus need to be programmed for the machine and OS you need want to infect. Can someone tell me a reported case of a virus programmed for Windows Mobile? Please don't report what Symantec or Panda said about it... I mean a real case reported by some user. None.
Consideration 2.
Virus propagation. The way to propagate a virus is into excutable code (this means EXE files) or finding a way to introduce and executable code in a non-executable file, like a .zip file. Then you need to spread that infected code. How in a PDA? Exchanging files? A few exchange of EXE is done in PDA. Thru the network? Cmon... there is a few opportunities for a PDA virus to exist and a few to spread.
Consideration 3.
Don't get confused. Having PocketPC IE doesn't mean that you are on risk of the troyans or virus or even spyware that IE for Windows XP has. First of all because the code to be executed on a PC is not executable in a PPC and second that the target APIs and files in a PC are not in a PPC.
Consideration 4.
Please don't mention Bluetooth virus. The ones existing (if any) are for Symbian and even in Symbian world there are so many incompatible versions of symbian that a given virus has real troubles to spread in the network.
SO...
If I question the fact of someone coding virus for this particular machine and OS, and I question the regular ways of spreading virus, and I question the network and IE risks... What's left? The marketing interest of anti-virus makers.
All this applies to anti-virus programs for Apple Mac, Linux of all kind, symbian phones... and phones in general.
Motorola got a lot of market share in USA... doesn't someone ever in USA got a virus on a Motorola? Never ever. Same for PocketPC. Trust me.
Regards,
mahjong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your post, very imformative.
You've converted me,,, for now.
But at the end of the day, what I think sells the software is the fact that it gives the end-user peace of mind.
You can tell people that they don't need something, don't have to do something until you're blue in the face and with all the facts in the world. But there will still be a large number of people that will want it anyway, just for peace of mind...
Also.... can anyone tell me have they had the problems that I had on post #1 :-D ... I've hard reset and installed but still get the problem, without the antivirus installed....
I think it's now looking to be the fault of SPB software, has anyone discovered a fix?
The main purpose of AV software on PPC devices is to scan synched email; if you get email on your Athena, then plug into Outlook, it may (theoretically) pass a virus on.
You know we tend to do quite a bit of testing out new and interesting applications downloaded free. Could'nt a virus be disguised as a free applications and when we run the CAB, confidential info will just simply be extracted, or registry item be manipulated etc?
eaglesteve said:
You know we tend to do quite a bit of testing out new and interesting applications downloaded free. Could'nt a virus be disguised as a free applications and when we run the CAB, confidential info will just simply be extracted, or registry item be manipulated etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that's a well thought out statement and question.
As easy as it is to develop applications on the Windows Mobile platform, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing serious viruses and trojans. There are a few out there already but aren't wide spread yet. As on any system, if you open attachments via e-mail or download from the Internet, it's only going to be a matter of time. Time is coming soon. Trust me on this point. Not everyone will be hit but it'll make a mark.
What about writing a virus that can infect your phone, sms your info and GPS coordinates to someone? ;-)
Viruses aren't difficult at all to write. On any platform, Wintel/Linux/Mac/etc.
When one of the scriptkiddies determines that he's been bored all week because he's home for summer vacation and looks over at daddies cell phone....one of them will wonder..."how fast can I propogate a virus throughout cell phones".
Not an if it happens just a when. Let's just be patient and we'll be hearing about the first infections in no time at all.
Heck, someone on this forum could one day write something that infects everyone. You never know.
Hmmm I see what all of you meant but remember the key is "coding a virus for a given machine and OS"... If you don't code the virus that way will not affect the PDA.
Talking about virus I remember the slogan of the New York Mafia: "First we created the need of having protection... them we sell it". (just a joke don't flame... people).
ltxda said:
As easy as it is to develop applications on the Windows Mobile platform, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing serious viruses and trojans. There are a few out there already but aren't wide spread yet. As on any system, if you open attachments via e-mail or download from the Internet, it's only going to be a matter of time. Time is coming soon. Trust me on this point. Not everyone will be hit but it'll make a mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People have been saying "it's coming soon" for years. It has always been easy to program for the Windows Mobile platform, but that hasn't changed the fact that it has now been seven (or five, depending on how you count) years without a virus on Windows Mobile.
Let's hope that people are smart enough to keep it that way. Virus programmers need to get their heads checked...
Moskus said:
People have been saying "it's coming soon" for years. It has always been easy to program for the Windows Mobile platform, but that hasn't changed the fact that it has now been seven (or five, depending on how you count) years without a virus on Windows Mobile.
Let's hope that people are smart enough to keep it that way. Virus programmers need to get their heads checked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, agreed.
Kids don't always think logically. We have all done stupid things in our youth. That tradition will never die.
I think this is a useful thread, but not sure it answered the original question, so can I re-state and add?
1. Is the included F-Secure a/v programme the best one for the job?
2. Is it worth-while paying to keep it updated?
Many thanks
Robert
From all my browsing on here recently, on not one occasion have I seen Anti Virus / anti malware tools mentioned.
I have a bit of a blackspot in my thinking on this - is it recommended / necessary to have such tools on Windows Mobiles? What do people do to protect their HD2s?
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/get-flexilis-mobile-security-with-antivirus.html
i have not tested it on the HD2
Security thru obscurity - WM has such a relatively ****e mktshare I don't think u have to worry too much about firewalls and antivirus... as long as you scan the files you copy over to your phone via ActiveSync I think ur pretty much safe.
If u really want antivirus I think Kaspersky or some other major provider offer solutions....
hi! i use eset mobile antivirus...
I think I need to look into an anti virus/firewall type of software, as I've just found out I may have been affected by something called The Koobface worm which sent out messages from my facebook account to all my friends asking them to check out a link which was just some money scam.
I have since changed my password, but I don't know if it will happen again. I'm surprised as I have hardly used the internet on my HD2, apart from merely checking well know sites like BBC and MSN.
i am also interested in this, is it really worth it? most viruses i have seen descriptions of for WM seem to relate to social networking sites and direct access apps. since i dont use these sort of sites, is there any need for concern? after all, regular backups of this sort of device seem like the better option to an always live cpu-eating (and battery) scanning program.
grega_slo said:
hi! i use eset mobile antivirus...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used their Anti-Virus on my PC/s and I found that it leaves a small footprint in comparison to the likes of Symantec etc... however, how does the mobile version effect your battery life and performance of your device?
I've looked a the ESET website and they reckon it's not that resource hungry, but real world usage usually is different...
Hi!
I get battery drain as most people here... About 3% per hour in standby mode...
It is resource hungry when you perform scan... But I really need just on access scanner... Realtime scanning is important...
Antivirus/Antimalware is not currently necessary in WinMo devices. It simply drains resources protecting against threats that don't exist.
Viruses are unlikely as the OS is in ROM (unlike PCs where the OS is just another set of user files) and malware has yet to reach WinMo in any real form though it has been produced in the labs of some AV developers. The difference is that malware needs to be positively accepted on the device to install- it can't install silently due to the way the OS works.
Your choice at the end of the day, but PC threats cannot infect/affect WinMo devices.
webjunky said:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/get-flexilis-mobile-security-with-antivirus.html
i have not tested it on the HD2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks webjunky, I've got it running on my phone, quite cool actually, bunch of online tools such as "Scream" which can be used incase you misplace your phone, you can use the facility to make you phone "Scream". Only useful if your phone is nearby and you can't find it, handy though if you have it on silent and can't find it by ring with another phone.
The GPS/network locater is cool too, you can go online and locate your phone, takes about 5mins to locate, bit like in the films when they try to "trace" a call
I don't know if its a placebo effect, but I think the phone might be abit slower, but hard to tell to be honest.
NeilM said:
Antivirus/Antimalware is not currently necessary in WinMo devices. It simply drains resources protecting against threats that don't exist.
Viruses are unlikely as the OS is in ROM (unlike PCs where the OS is just another set of user files) and malware has yet to reach WinMo in any real form though it has been produced in the labs of some AV developers. The difference is that malware needs to be positively accepted on the device to install- it can't install silently due to the way the OS works.
Your choice at the end of the day, but PC threats cannot infect/affect WinMo devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks NeilM, that makes alot of sense. I'm still worried about how facebook messages were sent via my HD2 to all my friends. Is it more a facebook issue, or could it be the "Koobface" worm some how got onto my phone?
This is likely to be a problem generated by a PC infected by koobface- either yours or one of your contacts, if the messages are indeed infected.
The HD2 is not susceptible to any PC threats so it hasn't come from there- more likely that something has spoofed your messaging system within Facebook.
NeilM said:
This is likely to be a problem generated by a PC infected by koobface
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely. Koobface only (currently) exists on PCs, not mobile devices.
NeilM said:
PC threats cannot infect/affect WinMo devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? This is my experience with HTC HD2. I want to share it with you guys.
Because recently I connect my HD2 to a PC with XP OS, just wanted to print something (connected to PC'S USB, copy file and all that). And my device got really slow after that.
The next day, I got curious and run a scan (Kaspersky 2010) from my notebook, connected to my HD2. Whoa...., it's trojan everywhere... Furthermore, I think I still have virus in my HD2 (it is located in storage card).
The folder's name: COLD; sub-folder: HOTT. I forgot the content inside HOTT, but some guy used this technique of moving this virus folder into an empty folder named AUTORUN.INF in a storage card to prevent further infection in the system. He said we have to create a new folder for this, but AUTORUN.INF has been there since I scan my HD2 long ago with Kaspersky.
I don't know about other HD2 users, but I still have that COLD folder. I tried to move it to AUTORUN.INF folder, but it strangely persisted to stay in my storage card. For some reasons I don't understand, the files in HOTT sub-folder were gone. And when I check into AUTORUN.INF, the COLD folder and the HOTT sub-folder are also there with the content of HOTT sub-folder gone.
Now, I'm still considering whether to hard-reset my device once and for all.
LeeMC79 said:
From all my browsing on here recently, on not one occasion have I seen Anti Virus / anti malware tools mentioned.
I have a bit of a blackspot in my thinking on this - is it recommended / necessary to have such tools on Windows Mobiles? What do people do to protect their HD2s?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use LookOut Mobile on my HD2 & Nexus1
I had lookout on my Nexus One for peace mind but it only "protected" my phone from a malicious app that I might install.
I don't have nearly as many applications available on WinMo so there's no reason for me to have anti-virus since I have so few applications.
- Bing
- Opera Mobile
- Skype
- Skyfire
- Total Commander
- CoPilot
- Omarket
- cleanRAM
- WiFi Toggler
All these apps came from trusted sources so I'm not worried at all. Any trouble and I wouldn't have any reservations about resetting my phone back to factory settings though.
It is quite possible that a virus on your PC may have copied over files to the HD2's SD card while it was in disk mode. this is no different than a virus coping files to a floppy or usb flash drive to try and infect the next host that they are plugged/inserted into the PC and the PC autoruns the drive.
Just because a virus infected file is sitting on the HD2's SD card does not mean the HD2 is actively infected, ie processes are running that are sending out junk to your contacts, key logging, damaging/infecting other file, etc.
As far as i know there are no viruses out in the wild for winmobile, putting AV software on it is likely a waste of money and battery/resources. Youre probably more likely to find a virus on the android or jailbroken iphone platforms, than youll ever find them on win mobile
NeilM said:
Antivirus/Antimalware is not currently necessary in WinMo devices. It simply drains resources protecting against threats that don't exist.
Viruses are unlikely as the OS is in ROM (unlike PCs where the OS is just another set of user files) and malware has yet to reach WinMo in any real form though it has been produced in the labs of some AV developers. The difference is that malware needs to be positively accepted on the device to install- it can't install silently due to the way the OS works.
Your choice at the end of the day, but PC threats cannot infect/affect WinMo devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although your base OS is in ROM, Patches and upgrades are in memory if installed afterwards.
Removing can be simple: Hard reset, Format SD, apply patches, install software.
But this will take a lot of time.
At the moment the threat is (very) low. Main reason beeing that messaging is very tight (no automatic downloads).
I do not use antivirus, I use PDA's allready for 12 years (from Palm trough Ipaq to HTC phones). About 6 years ago Antimalware was a small hype, I went along for a moment.
This resulted in almost unusable PDA, very bad battery life. So I abandoned. Over the last 6 years, without Antivirus, just sensible use (no roaming on unknown WIFI, not visiting risky sites) I have never had any virus contamination.
So Honestly: Antivirus on HD2 is a bit scareware.
Also over the last 6 years (since first virus in 2004) the number of virusses are minimal. Most virusses are also just for one OS (so a virus on winmo5 does not work on winmo 6.5)
In my opinion: acceptable risks.
Just my two cents
hd2 virus
I do feel assured and feel relieved about not instllng anather app that htc company not included. After all, there is a reason for them not including any such apps about virus protection.
Windows PC virus cannot run on windows mobile as ARM is not x86 compatable. In order for a virus to infect a HD2 it has to be written specifically for that OS and CPU combination.
If you present your phone as a hdd to your computer then it is possible for a virus to get on the phone but it will not run on the phone due to different OS and CPU.
It is, however, still possible to infect another PC via the phone since you can still present your phone as a hdd to the host PC and the virus is uploaded when the host accesses the phone's storage.