Phone fears exploited.

In spite of the fact that there is not a single mobile phone virus in existence, virus writers and hoax writers alike have been exploiting public concern about the issue. A computer worm, VBS/Timo-A (also called Timofonica), has been sending text messages to random mobile phone numbers by emailing an SMS (Short Messaging Service) gateway in Spain. The virus was fairly widely reported as being a mobile phone virus. However, it is no such thing: it activates via e-mail and relies on users to pass it on. It cannot be transmitted by mobile phones.

Similarly, one of the most recent hoax messages to be doing the rounds, relies on public concern about mobile phone viruses. The hoax email (called 'Unavailable mobile phone') warns people that their mobile phone might display the message UNAVAILABLE on screen and become infected with a virus rendering it unable to connect to the telephone network.

The warning bears all the hallmarks of a hoax:

* it threatens significant consequences

* it urges recipients of the email to forward the warning to all their friends.

As always, Sophos's advice is that you should simply delete the email.

You can find out about hoaxes and other non-virus scares at wwwsophos.com/virusinfo/scares. You might also want to introduce a company policy about how to deal with hoaxes. One such policy is suggested at wwwsophos.com/virusinfo/ articles/hoaxes.htmi.