The first mobile phone virus capable of replicating via MMS messages has been discovered. Commwarrior-A, which targets Symbian Series 60 phones, is not spreading, but its ability to propagate via Multimedia Messaging Service messages (MMS) worries some experts.

To date. Phone viruses have spread over Bluetooth - so they are only capable of affecting nearby phones. A MMS virus could potentially spread as quickly as an email worm. Finnish anti-virus firm F-Secure thinks the virus may be from Russia because it contains text that says "OTMOP03KAM HET!". Which roughly translates to "No to braindeads".

MMS messages are text messages that include an image, audio or video. They are sent from one phone to another or via email. ®

Related stories

Symbian worm source code slips out
Double trouble from Symbian virus
Mobile virus epidemics: don't panic