There are several Anti-Virus applications out there for symbian phones, the question is which one to use.
Who would have thought the day would come where you phone needs anti-virus? Well honestly speaking if your smart about how you use your bluetooth and you don’t install unsigned applications you are still pretty safe and will most likely avoid any virus. However this won’t last forever and its just a matter of time before someone creates a virus as damaging as Blaster or Netsky.
So, what can you do to protect yourself? Well you could firstly become a little smarter about things by following these simple tips:
1. If you are not using bluetooth, disable it. Not only are you putting yourself at risk but you are wasting battery life as well.
2. Avoid Pairing devices, if you require pairing DO NOT authorise links, its better to manually allow each connection and session
3. Do not accept files from unknown sources, this might be tempting…….DO NOT DO IT!
4. Do not install unsigned applications or applications whose source you are unsure of.
5. Think for yourself, if it does not look right it probably isn’t.
So know that you have the basics covered you need to consider Anti-Virus, this is a very new field for Symbian and the products still need a lot of work before they truely become effective and practical. That said its not that they don’t work, they could just be a whole lot better. So what are your options?
Symantec Mobile Security for Symbian is unfortunately limited only by the phones which it supports. A great application with all the features you might need and then some, it even includes a firewall for your phone, blocking unused ports the second its installed. Ofcourse as everyone knows symantec products come at a premium and are generally bloated. Overall its still a great all-in-one package, supported phones can be seen here.
F-Secure offers 2 seperate applications for either Series 60 or Series 90 phones, its lacks the built in firewall but offers excelent virus protection, it also offers a 30-day trial allowing you to test before you spend your hard earned money on a grudge purchase.
Another option to look at is Simworks AV, a great application with lots of potential.
For Windows based smartphones and PDAs you should look at Kaspersky or Airscanner
Bluetooth is not the only weakness for cellphones, MMS & Internet services also place you at risk. It is important to think carefully before installing any application or accepting any files either via MMS or Bluetooth. Anti-Virus will go a long way to protect you but ultimately you are your own best line of defence.