"An even more sinister scenario involves spreading malicious code through 'pattern files', which masquerade as software upgrades and synchronization user interfaces. These can be especially dangerous since most mobile devices are routinely upgraded through over-the-air (OTA) programming, and viruses that are inserted within this programming can easily infect tens of thousands of mobile systems within a single corporation.
At least four wireless carriers outside the U.S. now offer mobile virus protection software from software security companies like F-Secure Corp. and McAfee, Inc., although in most cases it is offered as a premium service for an additional fee. Both companies, as well as competitors like Symantec, Inc., Trend Micro and Panda Software, have their sites set on the U.S. market as demand slowly picks up for Web-enabled phones. Recently, Nokia Corp. announced that it equip its Series 60 smartphones with the Symantec Mobile Security anti-virus software, of example."
